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Policy committee recommends first read of expanded student health services policy
Summary
The committee voted to forward revised policy 5141.21 (Student Health Services) for a first reading. The policy consolidates statutory health requirements into district policy, clarifies responsibilities for screenings and records, and updates language on sports physicals and immunizations.
The Danbury Board of Education Policy Committee voted to recommend a first reading of revised policy 5141.21, Student Health Services, which consolidates state statutory requirements for physicals, immunizations and health screenings into district policy.
Kelly (staff member) said the revised policy combines CABE-recommended language with district practices and state requirements and "goes over all the legal requirements of the age levels and grade levels at which students have to have, their physicals done, the requirements for immunizations, tuberculosis screenings, eye and vision screening, scoliosis screening in the school environment."
The revision specifies which personnel oversee student health services in the district and clarifies that health records are protected under federal privacy law. Kelly identified Carrie Burke as the district's coordinator of health services and said the policy clarifies nurse responsibilities for monitoring health needs and coordinating emergency responses.
The policy spells out screening schedules: vision screenings at kindergarten, first, third, fourth and fifth grades; hearing screenings at elementary levels; and postural (scoliosis) screenings for females in grades five and seven and males in grades eight and nine when not already completed during a student's physical exam. The policy also outlines tuberculosis testing criteria recommended by the district medical advisor and summarizes required immunizations under Connecticut law.
On immunization exemptions a member of the public asked, "Are there any waivers given at any time?" Kelly replied that religious exemptions were discontinued in recent years and that "any student that's entered since that change in statutory language is required to have the vaccinations," except in rare, documented medical circumstances.
The committee voted to forward the policy to the full board for first reading and asked staff to provide a cost estimate to the finance committee, noting that implementation will require personnel time and professional learning days for staff.
