CODE: 5141.2
SECTION: PUPILS
CONTROL OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE IN SCHOOLS
The West Milford Board of Education recognizes that control of the spread of
communicable disease is essential to the well-being of the school community and
to the efficient operation of the schools. For the purposes of this policy,
"communicable disease" means smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever and other strep
infections, whooping cough, mumps, typhoid fever, measles, rubella, and
infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or those that are identified
as such by the State or National Health Departments.
The Board shall be bound by the statutes and by rules of the State Board of
Education for the exclusion and readmission of pupils who have contracted a
communicable disease, of teachers and pupils who have been exposed to a
communicable disease, and for the instruction of teachers in health and the
prevention of disease. The Board shall comply with regulations of the New Jersey
Department of Health and West Milford Board of Health governing the prevention,
control, and reporting of communicable disease.
A. Medical Exclusion of Students
1. The school nurses may exclude from the classroom and the principal may
exclude from the school building any pupil who appears to be ill or has been
exposed to a communicable disease. A pupil may be isolated in school to await
the arrival of or instructions from an adult member of his or her family. If the
school physician or the school nurse is present in the building, his or her
recommendation shall be sought before any such exclusion or isolation is
ordered.
2. Any pupil retained at home or excluded from school by reason of having or
being suspected of having a communicable disease shall not be readmitted to
his or her classroom until he or she presents written evidence of being free of
communicable disease. That evidence may be supplied by the school physician or
another qualified physician who has examined the pupil.
3. No person, pupil or adult, may attend or visit school if he or she has an
uncoverable weeping skin lesion, whether or not the person has been screened for
HIV.
4. No pupil or adult shall be excluded from school solely by virtue of the fact
of living with or being related to an HIV-infected individual.
5. It is not necessary that anyone in the school be specifically notified that
an HIV-infected individual is registered to attend school or is an employee of
the school. Therefore, HIV/AIDS status is an exception to records required
pursuant to student physical examinations and school employee examinations. If
school officials receive notification of the presence of an HIV-infected
individual, records containing identifying information regarding the HIV status
of the individual shall be kept confidential. Information regarding an
HIV-infected pupil can be shared, only with the written consent of the pupil’s
parent or guardian, with those who need to know the status to determine the
educational program for the pupil.
B. Procedures:
The Superintendent of Schools shall develop procedures for the control of
communicable disease that include:
1. the instruction of teaching staff members in the detection of disease.
2. measures for its prevention and control.
3. the removal from school premises to the care of a responsible adult of pupils
identified and excluded in accordance with this policy.
4. the preparation of standards for the readmission of pupils who have recovered
from communicable disease.
5. the provision of appropriate home instruction to excluded pupils in
accordance with law.
6. the filing of reports as required by law.
7. the development of alternative procedures to assure continuity of instruction
in the event of district school closures.
8. the development of procedures for communicating possible school schedule
changes, busing changes, and school closure guidelines.
First Reading: May 23, 2006
Adopted: June 20, 2006