USD 379 reminded parents of the district’s illness guidelines this week. These guidelines have been established with recommendations and regulations by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, as well as the Center of Disease Control.
If your child is ill, please call the school to report the illness.
Fever: Students with a temperature of 100F degrees or over should stay home. They may return to school when they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication to lower the temperature. Students will be sent home from school if their temperature is 100F or over.
Vomiting and/or Diarrhea: Students should stay home until they are symptom-free for 24 hours. Students who vomit or have diarrhea at school will be sent home.
Strep throat: Each infected student should remain out of school for 10 days if untreated or 24 hours following the initiation of antibiotic therapy.
Cold/Coughing: Students should stay home until they are no longer coughing and sneezing frequently and can properly manage profuse nasal drainage.
Pinkeye (conjunctivitis): Infected children are not required to be excluded from school unless their behavior is such that close contact with other students cannot be avoided. This may be at the discretion of the school nurse. Antibiotic therapy may need to be initiated depending on the source of the infection.
Chicken Pox: Students with chicken pox shall remain out of school until vesicles become dry and crusted. Please report this diagnosis to the school.
Fifth Disease: The greatest period of communicability is before the onset of the rash. Students are not contagious after a rash onset, so no exclusion is necessary.
Impetigo: May return to school after treatment has started, open wounds that may come into contact with others must be covered.
Ringworm: May return to school immediately after beginning treatment with fungicide. Infected students should not be participating in athletic activities involving skin-to-skin contact until lesions are healed or covered.
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease: No exclusion requirements; however, it is recommended children with fever and rash should stay home until fever-free for 24 hours.
Respiratory Illness (COVID, Influenza, RSV, etc.): Stay home and away from others. They may return to school when, for at least 24 hours, BOTH are true:
- Symptoms are improving overall
- No fever is present, without using fever-reducing medication.
Once normal activities are resumed, additional precautions may be taken for the next 5 days to curb disease spread.
Jessie Smith, the school nurse at Lincoln Elementary, also reminded parents that they offer free at-home and on-site COVID-19 tests. On-site testing can be provided to students with parents’ permission, as well as provided to families, staff members, and community members. If you are interested in scheduling an on-site COVID19 test, reach out to a school nurse in the district. If you would like an at-home COVID-19 test, let a nurse know and they can be sent home.
