RENO, Nev. (KRNV & MyNews4.com) -- Washoe County School District's policy on head lice states parents choose whether or not to send their children to school after the students are diagnosed with the parasites.
Dana Balchunas, Director of Student Health Services said that last year's procedure/policy called for students with lice/nits to be excluded indefinitely from school until the lice/nits were all gone. In some cases it lead to some students being out for a while from school and after reviewing the procedure/policy, the school district decided that students shouldn't miss any time from school.
According to Vicki Campbell with the Washoe County School District, the new procedure/policy began at the start of the school year in September.
The policy specifically states the following:
5.1.1 Students with identified head lice or nits may ride WCSD transportation, participate in all class room and educational activities, including field trips, and will not be isolated from their peers.
5.1.4 In cases where a student has a chronic and/or persistent case of head lice or nits, the school nurse will contact the parent directly and provide ongoing support, community referrals, resources, and education regarding treatment and control.
5.3.1 Teachers will be vigilant to symptoms of head lice and discreetly refer students with symptoms to the school health office for further assessment.
5.8.2 After the school nurse or trained clinical aide checks the student and if appropriate, the student’s siblings, the parent will be notified of the results.
5.9 Any parent of a student with lice or nits will be given the option of picking the student up from school prior to the end of the school day in order to begin immediate treatment at home.
5.10 The school nurse or trained clinical aide will recheck the student, and the student's siblings if appropriate, when the student returns to school.
