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ISD 191 to modernize student-medication language, ease over-the-counter limits
Summary
District staff told the policy review committee it will revise Policy 516 to use broader language for epinephrine devices and to remove a physician requirement for over‑the‑counter medications so staff can administer items such as Advil and Tylenol without a doctor's order.
At the Sept. 16 ISD 191 School Board Policy Review Committee meeting, Amy, a district staff presenter, outlined recommended edits to Policy 516 (student medication and telehealth). Staff proposed changing the term “auto-injectors” to “epinephrine delivery system” to encompass additional options, and removing a requirement that over-the-counter, nonprescription medications such as Advil and Tylenol require authorization from a medical doctor. Amy said the removal aims to allow staff to give common over-the-counter medicines to students who feel unwell so they can remain in school: “we are removing that to, in hopes that we might have more students who just might feel achy and wanna go home that we get to give them some over the counter medication and keep them in school.”
Amy also noted an addition to the policy’s definitions section (administrator epinephrine delivery system) and an insertion on page 516-6 that references the commissioner of health providing districts with the medication order of distribution. The proposals came from changes in model language provided by MSBA.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about implementation at athletic events and staff training. Amy said athletic fields are included in the district’s rollout and that deans and assistant principals are among the staff present at extracurricular activities; she agreed to verify whether coaches receive training. The committee placed Policy 516 on first reading. No formal vote was recorded at the meeting.
Why it matters: The edits broaden the devices covered for emergency epinephrine and reduce the paperwork barrier for administering common over-the-counter medicines, which changes who may authorize in-school administration of those medications.
