The Steelville R-III School District School Board recognizes its responsibility to protect the health
of students and employees from the risks posed by communicable diseases. The Board also has
a responsibility to protect individual privacy, educate all students regardless of medical condition
and treat students and employees in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Immunization
In accordance with law, students cannot attend school without providing satisfactory evidence of
immunization, unless they are exempted from immunization.
Universal Precautions
The district requires all staff to routinely employ universal precautions to prevent exposure to
disease-causing organisms. The district will provide the necessary equipment and supplies to
implement universal precautions.
Categories of Potential Risk
Students or employees with communicable diseases that pose a risk of transmission in school or
at school activities (such as, but not limited to, chicken pox, influenza and conjunctivitis) will be
managed as required by law and in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of
Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and local county or city health departments. Such
management may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from school or reassignment as needed
for the health and safety of students and staff.
Students or employees infected with chronic communicable diseases that do not pose a risk of
transmission in school or at school activities (such as, but not limited to, hepatitis B virus or HIV)
shall be allowed to attend school or continue to work without any restrictions based solely on the
infection. The district will not require any medical evaluations or tests for such diseases.
Exceptional Situations
There are certain specific types of conditions, such as frequent bleeding episodes or uncoverable,
oozing, skin lesions that could potentially be associated with transmission of both bloodborne and
nonbloodborne pathogens. In the case of students, certain types of behaviors, such as biting or
scratching, may also be associated with transmission of pathogens.
Students who exhibit such behaviors or conditions may be educated in an alternative educational
setting or, if appropriate, disciplined in accordance with the discipline code. In the case of a
student with a disability, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team or 504 team will make
any change of placement decisions.
Employees who exhibit such conditions will not be allowed to work until the condition is resolved
or appropriately controlled in a way that minimizes exposure.
Confidentiality
The superintendent or designee shall ensure that confidential student and employee information
is protected in accordance with law. Medical information about an individual, including an
individual with HIV, will only be shared with district employees who have a reasonable need to
know the identity of the individual in order to provide proper health care or educational services.
Examples of people who may need to know a student's medical information are the school nurse
and the IEP or 504 team if applicable. An example of an individual who may need to know an
employee's medical information is the employee's immediate supervisor, if accommodations are
necessary.
All medical records will be maintained in accordance with law and Board policy. Breach of
confidentiality may result in disciplinary action, including termination.
Reporting and Disease Outbreak Control
Reporting and disease outbreak control measures will be implemented in accordance with state and
local law, DHSS rules governing the control of communicable diseases and other diseases
dangerous to public health, and any applicable rules distributed by the appropriate county or city
health department.
Notification
Missouri state law provides that superintendents who supply a copy of this policy, adopted by the
district Board of Education, to DHSS shall be entitled to confidential notice of the identity of any
district student reported to DHSS as HIV-infected and known to be enrolled in the district.
Missouri law also requires the parent or guardian to provide such notice to the superintendent.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this
section for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures
and/or forms for related information.
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Adopted: 03/02/2006
Cross Refs: GBE, Staff Health and Safety
JHC, Student Health Services and Requirements
JHCD, Administration of Medications to Students
Legal Refs: §§ 167.181, .183, .191, 191.650 - .695, 210.003, RSMo.
19 C.S.R. 20-20.010 - .060, 20-28.010
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 - 1487
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 - 12213
Steelville R-III School District, Steelville, Missouri
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