Approved: January 1988 453.3
Revised: December 13, 2004
Revised: April 12, 2017
Revised: January 15, 2020
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
The Evansville Community School District shall follow federal, state and local laws and regulations, and in cooperation with the Rock County Health Department shall establish and maintain appropriate health and safety standards regarding known or suspected communicable diseases, as well as the reporting of disease and disease control.
Communicable disease control procedures shall be maintained in cooperation with the Rock County Health Department. Any person who knows or suspects that a student has a communicable disease shall notify the District nurse or building principal. The District nurse or building principal, shall then notify the parent/guardian for further testing and diagnosis. If required, pursuant to public health statutes and regulations, the District nurse or building principal will make a report to the Rock County Health Department.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services chart “Wisconsin Childhood Communicable Diseases” available at (https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p4/p44397.pdf) will serve as a reference for the District’s response to communicable diseases. The chart will be available in all school health offices.
For purposes of the District’s communicable disease policy, communicable diseases include, but are not limited to, the following:
Ameobiasis |
Lice |
Campylobacter |
Measles |
Chicken pox (varicella) |
Meningitis |
Chlamydia |
Mononucleosis virus |
Cytomegalovirus |
Mumps |
Gastrointestinal viruses |
Pertussis |
Giardiasis |
Rotavirus |
Gonorrhea |
Salmonella bacteria |
Hepatitis B virus |
Scabies |
HIV/AIDS |
Shigella bacteria |
Impetigo |
Syphilis |
Influenza virus |
Tuberculosis |
Each case shall be assessed on an individual basis, using current literature, state and local recommendations and policies, state statutes and administrative codes. A team effort including the school nurse, health clerk, school staff, health department staff and any appropriate medical consultants shall be utilized to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases.
Students may be excluded from school and/or school-related activities if they are suspected of or diagnosed as having a communicable disease, as defined by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, that poses a significant health risk to others or that renders them unable to adequately pursue their studies or perform their jobs. Students who are excluded shall be excluded until a physician allows them to return to school. Students excluded from school pursuant to this policy may appeal their exclusion in accordance with established procedures.
Employees who provide services or perform duties that expose them to a significant health risk, may be excused by the District, from providing such duties until such time as they are no longer exposed to a significant health risk. During the excused time, the employee will be reassigned to other duties. No employee shall refuse to perform their duties or refuse to work with, or provide services to students because they have (or may have) a communicable disease if the communicable disease does not pose a significant health risk to others.
In recognition that an individual’s health status is personal and private, all information reported under this policy shall remain confidential in accordance with state and federal law.
Appeal Process
In situations where there is a disagreement with the District’s decision or recommendation, an appeal may be made within five days to the district administrator, or designee. The appeal shall be in writing and shall include the following:
- Statement of facts
- Statement of relief requested
- Any necessary medical information required
The district administrator, or designee, shall render a decision in writing within five days of receipt of the appeal. In the event there is disagreement with the district administrator’s decision, the matter may be appealed within five days to the school board. For purposes of this process, a “day” shall be defined as regular working days excluding Saturdays, Sundays and days school is not in session during the school year. During summers, paid holidays are excluded.
Legal Ref.: Sections: 103.15 Wisconsin Statutes (Restrictions on Use of an HIV Test)
111.34 (Disability: Exceptions and Special Cases)
118.01(2)(d)2c (Educational Goals and Expectations)
118.125 (Pupil Records)
118.13 (Pupil Discrimination Prohibited)
118.25 (Health Examinations)
121.02(1)(i) (School District Standards)
146.82-146.83 (Confidentiality of Patient Health Care Records)
Local Ref.: Policy #453 – School Health Services
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