Dickson County board approves emergency bed‑bug policy after debate over two‑day exclusion

The Dickson County Board of Education on Nov. 20 approved a change to student health policy 6.4031 to add bed‑bug treatment and readmission procedures, voting to suspend normal rules so the policy could be adopted on both first and second readings at the same meeting.

Board member Mister Hall, who presented the change, said administrators considered the measure urgent and asked the board to act immediately: "we need to pass this on first reading if at all possible tonight," he said. The motion to suspend the rules passed, and the board then approved policy 6.4031.

The most contested issue was the policy's two‑day timeline for a student to return to school after exclusion and what constitutes "satisfactory" evidence of treatment. Several board members asked whether two days is enough time for families to arrange extermination or other interventions. One board member warned that the policy as written could create inequities if the term "satisfactory examination" is not defined.

School staff sought to clarify operational details and reduce the burden on families. "The students will come to school and they will change clothes, and we will dry their clothes," said School staff (Speaker 8), describing a plan for in‑school clothing changes and laundering to limit exclusion when homes cannot be treated immediately. Administrators said that, where appropriate, the district would work with the Tennessee Department of Children's Services (DCS) family‑support branch and that school health staff would have discretion to determine readmission readiness.

The adopted language keeps an "or" option for readmission: either a satisfactory exam by school health officials or documentation showing treatment. Administration said the policy permits continued school‑based measures and nurse discretion where multiple treatments may be required. The board's approval was recorded as "all ayes."

Board members asked staff to return language clarifying what constitutes a satisfactory school health examination and to provide parent guidance (the administration said it would draft "bed‑bug tips" explaining required clothing and steps). The board did not add a specific extension for families beyond the policy's discretion language but discussed refining the definition of satisfactory evidence at a later work session.

The board's action takes effect as the district implements the supporting procedures described at the meeting. Next steps include publication of parent guidance and internal nurse‑training on the new readmission checks.