Students with a communicable disease are allowed to attend school provided their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to other students or employees. The term "communicable disease" will mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.
Prevention and control of communicable diseases is included in the school district's bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan. The procedures will include scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance, universal precautions, vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, follow-up, communication of hazards to employees and record keeping. This plan will be reviewed annually by the superintendent and school nurse.
The health risk to immunosuppressed students is determined by their personal physician. The health risk to others in the school district environment from the presence of a student with a communicable disease will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the student's personal physician, a physician chosen by the school district or public health officials.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the school nurse, to develop administrative regulations stating the procedures for dealing with students with a communicable disease.
For more information on communicable disease charts, and reporting forms, go to the Iowa Department of Public Health Web site: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/CADE/Default.aspx
NOTE: This policy is consistent with current health practices regarding communicable diseases. The bloodborne pathogen language in the second paragraph and accompanying regulation is in compliance with federal law on control of bloodborne pathogens.
Legal Reference: School Board of Nassau County v. Arline, 480 U.S. 273 (1987).
29 U.S.C. §§ 701 et seq. (2012).
45 C.F.R. Pt. 84.3 (1993).
Iowa Code ch. 139A.8 (2013).
641 I.A.C. 1.2-.5, 7.
Cross Reference: 403.3 Communicable Diseases - Employees
506 Student Records
507 Student Health and Well-Being
Approved: June 13, 1988, Sep 22, 2014, November 26, 2018, May 18, 2020
Reviewed: Sep. 28, 2005, Aug. 25, 2014, Oct. 15, 2018, April 9, 2020
Revised: Oct. 10, 2005, Aug. 25, 2014, Oct. 15, 2018
