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Rockcastle County board pulls health‑services consent policy after new law bars nurses from giving OTC medicine without doctor order
Summary
The Rockcastle County Board of Education approved most 2025–26 policy updates but removed the district’s health‑service consent policy for revision after staff identified a conflict with a law that prohibits school nurses from dispensing over‑the‑counter medications without a physician order.
The Rockcastle County Board of Education on a special‑call vote approved the district’s 2025–26 policy and procedure updates while removing the health‑service consent policy for further revision after staff found it conflicted with a new state law.
Board members approved the package of policies during the meeting and agreed to pull the health‑service consent policy for a corrected reading at the next regular meeting. "They made a mistake. So we're asking you to approve these policies with us pulling this health service consent policy out," said Dr. Ballinger.
Why it matters: the new law takes effect June 27 and, as interpreted by district staff, prevents school nurses from administering any over‑the‑counter medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen or Benadryl without a physician's order. That change affects routine care and requires the district to amend its consent language and practices before the law is effective.
Board discussion focused on the conflict between the draft policy language provided by KSBA and the statute. Staff identified and struck a clause that had read, in part, "non prescription medications can only be given for 3 days without a physician's order," saying the clause should not have been included. "KSBA made a mistake. That clause should not have been in there, so we have struck that and asking you to approve for a first reading that that strike," Dr. Ballinger said.
Board members and staff said they are seeking clarification from clinicians and legal counsel about operational details. Dr. Ballinger said district staff will meet with Doctor Kelly and Mr. Reppert next week to determine whether a blanket physician order can be used or whether a separate order is required for each instance. "We are still clarifying," Dr. Ballinger said.
The board approved the remaining policy and procedure updates with the explicit exception of the health‑service consent policy; staff will reintroduce the revised consent policy for a corrected second reading at the next board meeting.
Staff emphasized they will return with the corrected language and further clarification for parents and clinicians before the law’s effective date.
