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Health services report: immunization compliance high; wellness-policy revisions undergo first reading
Summary
The district reported 100% immunization compliance for a second consecutive year, rising referrals from vision/hearing screens, and increases in identified student depression and anxiety; the board reviewed wellness-policy changes (first reading) that would encourage non-food rewards, require licensed PE teachers and add nutrition standards for out-of-school food service.
Director of Health Services Jill Dreger presented the department's annual report on July 13, reporting high immunization compliance, screening results, rising mental-health indicators and proposed wellness-policy changes now at first reading.
Dreger said her department achieved 100% immunization compliance for the second consecutive year (compliance includes completed vaccinations or an accepted waiver). She reported a waiver rate of 13.8% for the district and said results will continue to be monitored. Vision screenings covered kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th grades (870 students screened; 90 referrals, ~10%); hearing screenings screened 640 students with eight referrals (~1%).
Dreger noted the district recorded about 14,600 health-room visits this year and that 55% of the student population have a documented health condition ranging from asthma and diabetes to cardiac disorders. She also reported an increase in identified mental-health conditions: 44 students recorded with depression (a 33% increase) and 146 students recorded with anxiety (a 45% increase), relative to the prior year. Medication doses administered rose to just over 10,000 from roughly 7,800 the prior year.
Dreger also summarized wellness-policy recommendations presented as a first reading: encourage non-food rewards, clearly require that physical education K'12 be taught by a licensed teacher, post results of the triennial assessment on the district website, add nutrition standards for foods and beverages provided outside the federal meal program (including before- and after-care), and specify that physical activity not be used as punishment. Board members offered wording and scope edits during discussion and agreed to return the item for a second reading next month.
Dreger said the district installed 17 Narcan emergency-response boxes and distributed 105 Stop the Bleed kits across sites, and that the district follows Wisconsin statutes and board policy for emergency nursing services.
