Hernando School Board approves 2025-26 student progression plan, directs staff to revise head-lice language

The Hernando County School Board voted 4-0 July 29 to give final approval to the 2025-26 Student Progression Plan and School Procedures Handbook while directing staff to revise the health-policy language on head lice and nits and return with specific amendments in August.

Board member Miss Hawkins told the board she wanted to amend the handbook’s health section to restore a “no live lice and no nits” approach, citing classroom reinfestation and daily burdens placed on school nurses. “Many have requested that we return to a no live lice and no nits policy, believing it would better protect our school community and reduce repeated cases,” Hawkins said during the public hearing on the handbook.

The motion to immediately adopt Hawkins’s amendment was made and seconded but later withdrawn after members and staff said they needed to check statutory guidance and department recommendations. John Morris, director of secondary programs, said he would include any necessary statutory-driven amendments with other legally required changes to the pupil-progression documents. “I have to bring amendments…because of change in legislation over the summer,” Morris said, and offered to bring precise language back at the workshop or board meeting in August.

Superintendent Mr. Pender said the district will consult the Department of Health and follow the established policy-change process. He also noted the handbook wording currently in the book reflects a school-board policy (referred to in the meeting as “school board 84 51”) that says, in part, attempts will be made to contact the parent or guardian and that students with nits must report to the clinic daily until no nits are found.

Board members and staff also discussed operational details: the handbook references a 10-day daily recheck window for students with nits, notification to parents, and how notifications could be sent via ParentSquare. Board members asked staff to confirm whether the district must follow the CDC or state health guidance and to route any policy changes through NEOLA for legal review before final board action. The board approved the plan 4-0 with the direction that staff return with clarified lice/nits verbiage and statutory guidance at the second meeting in August.

The approved handbook will be posted once the board’s directed revisions are finalized and legally cleared so schools and families have the updated student-progression information before the school year is underway.