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Pinellas board sets public hearing to consolidate communicable‑disease policies into single policy
Summary
The board voted 6–0 to set a public hearing and second reading on a proposal to repeal three existing policies on communicable diseases and adopt a consolidated policy (policy 8450). Staff said the Department of Health, under Florida statute, leads notification of diagnosed communicable diseases to the district.
The Pinellas County School Board voted 6–0 May 13 to set a public hearing and a second reading on a proposal to repeal three existing policies on communicable diseases and to adopt a consolidated policy, Policy 8450, Control of Communicable Diseases.
Director of Strategic Planning and Policy Leanna Eisen told the board the proposal combines Policy 8450 (control of casual contact communicable diseases), Policy 8453 (direct contact communicable diseases) and Policy 8453.01 (control of bloodborne pathogens) into a single, streamlined policy. The redline shared at the April workshop removes redundant language, adds definitions referenced elsewhere in health services documents, removes curriculum language (the district uses state‑approved health curriculum), and eliminates procedural text from the policy itself.
Board members asked how the district is notified when a student is diagnosed with a reportable disease. In the absence of the director of student services, Donna Sicilian explained that, per Florida statute, the Florida Department of Health notifies the district after a medical provider reports a diagnosed communicable disease; the Department of Health directs the content, timing and recipients of related communications.
The motion to set the public hearing and second reading was made by board member Blacksburg and seconded by board member Meyer. The vote was 6–0 in favor.
The board will consider the consolidated policy at a subsequent public hearing and second reading; the presentation materials included a redline showing specific edits and a note that the last major revision to the existing policy dates to February 2011.
Votes at a glance: Motion to set public hearing and schedule second reading for adoption of Policy 8450 (repeal Policies 8450, 8453, 8453.01 and adopt consolidated policy 8450) — mover: Blacksburg; second: Meyer; outcome: set for public hearing, 6–0.
