6120 - Student Health Services Avery County Schools Policy

Student Health Services

The Avery County School System will provide health services to students as required by law. The school district will administer drugs or medication prescribed by a doctor upon the written request of the parents; give emergency health care when reasonably apparent circumstances indicate that any delay would seriously worsen the physical condition or endanger the life of the pupil; and perform any other first aid or life saving technique in which training has been provided. A registered nurse also will be available to provide assessment, care planning and on-going evaluation of students with special health care service needs in the school setting.

The superintendent may develop procedures or delegate the development of procedures to each school for providing these health services and meeting the following board requirements:

  • The principal must determine at the commencement of each school year prior to the beginning of classes, and thereafter as circumstances require, which employees will participate in the health services program. This information must be shared with all personnel who have a need to know.

  • Any employee designated to provide health care services must receive appropriate training.

  • Health manuals prepared by state departments will be followed in developing appropriate procedures and for determining which tasks must be performed by registered nurses, so long as these references are consistent with the law and are not unnecessarily burdensome.

  • Students identified with health care needs or chronic illness should be referred to the school nurse for evaluation or health care management.

  • Procedures must be consistent with all related board policies, including Communicable Diseases, 4230, and Administering Medicines to Students, 6125.

  • Procedures must be consistent with state and federal law for disabled students, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children with Special Needs will be followed, as applicable, for children with recognized exceptionalities.

  • Procedures must be consistent with guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education under G.S. 115C-12(31) to serve students with diabetes*, including developing and implementing individual diabetes care plans for such students and providing information and training to school personnel to appropriately support and assist such students, in accordance with their individual diabetes care plans. The superintendent or designee shall report annually to the State Board on

whether students with diabetes are enrolled in the school system and if so, provide information demonstration compliance with State Board guidelines as required by G.S. 115C-375.3.

  • Written information maintained by the school or school personnel regarding a student's medicinal and health needs is confidential. Parents and students must be accorded all rights provided by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and state confidentiality laws. Any employee who violates the confidentiality of the records may be subject to disciplinary action.

  • Parental consent will be obtained as required by law. Parents must be notified of their rights in accordance with policy 1310/4002, Parental Involvement. * Health professionals should be consulted in the development of health services. Opportunities also should be provided for input from staff, parents and students on the health services provided at the school.

Legal References: Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12134, 28 C.F.R. pt. 35; Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1232g; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., 34 C.F.R. pt. 300; Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 705(20), - 794, 34 C.F.R. pt. 104; G.S. 115C-12(12), -12(31), -36, -307(c), -375.1, -375.3; 16 N.C.A.C. 6D.0402; 21 N.C.A.C. 36.0221, 36.0224; Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, State Board of Education Policy EXCP-000

Cross References: Parental Involvement (policy 1310/4002), Communicable Diseases (policy 4230), Student Records (policy 4700), Administering Medicines to Students (policy 6125)

Adopted: 2005-07-11 Revised: 2008-07-07 2012-04-16 2017-04-28