Immunization Requirements   

The Ardmore Board of Education shall provide an environment for students to study, interact, and learn.  Such an environment shall be reasonably free of known hazards that may threaten or endanger the health of our children or educators.

The board of education shall require that no child be admitted to this school unless and until certification for a licensed physician or authorized representative of the State Department of Health is presented to the school administrators that such child has received or is in the process of receiving the immunization required by the State Department of Public Health unless an exemption has been granted from the immunizations on medical, religious, or personal grounds.

If a parent or guardian is unable to pay for the required immunizations, the school will refer the student to the State Department of Public Health for assistance.

⇨ SEE IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS HERE

Food Allergy Guildines

The following guidelines are designed to reduce the risk of exposure to potentially life-threatening food allergens for our growing number of students with severe allergies.  It is the district’s goal to provide a school setting that minimizes the risk of accidental exposure while maintaining a safe, positive educational environment for all students.

Impact on the School

Every school should expect at some point to have students with food allergies.  Schools must be prepared to deal with food allergies and the potential for anaphylaxis.

The student with an undiagnosed food allergy may experience a first allergy reaction while at school.

When a physician assesses that a child’s food allergy will result in anaphylaxis, the child’s condition meets the definition of “disability” and is covered under the Federal Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and may be covered under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) if the allergy management affects the student’s ability to make educational progress.

Adequate plans and staff, who are knowledgeable regarding preventive measures and are well prepared to handle severe allergic reactions, can save the life of a child.

Family Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to:

• Notify the school of a child’s allergies and provide updates as necessary.

• Help establish a core team of, but not limited to, the child’s physician, school principal, school nurse, teacher, guidance counselor, and food service manager to develop and implement a plan that addresses the child’s needs, including the school transportation, classroom, cafeteria, assemblies, etc.  A detailed food allergy action plan should also be included.

• Provide written medical documentation, instructions, and prescribed medications, using the food allergy action plan as a guide.  A photo of the child must also be included.

• Provide the child with a medic-alert bracelet identifying the life-threatening allergy.  The bracelet should be worn at all times while at school or school-sponsored events.

• Replace expired and/or used medications as per the food allergy action plan.

• Educate the child in the self-management of the food allergy, including:  safe and unsafe foods, strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods, symptoms of allergic reactions, hot to communicate an allergy-related problem, how to read food labels (age appropriate).  The child should not accept food from other students.

• Review guidelines/procedures with the core team members as soon as possible following a reaction.
  
  

Student Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the student to:

• Take a proactive role in the care and management of his/her food allergies (age appropriate).

• Not accept food items from or trade food items with other students.

• Avoid food items with unknown ingredients or known allergens.

• Immediately notify any teacher, administrator, assistant, or school nurse of possible exposure to food allergen.

• Wear a medic-alert bracelet at all times.
  
  

School Responsibility
It is the responsibility of school personnel to:

• Keep informed of and follow all applicable federal laws, including ADA, IDEA, Section 504, and FERPA, as well as all state laws and district policies/guidelines that may apply.

• Include food-allergic students in school activities.  Students shall not be excluded from school activities solely based on their food allergies unless those activities pose a legitimate threat to the health of the students.
• Inform and update all families registered in the district about known allergens in order to minimize the risk of life-threatening exposure.  Extracurricular groups using school facilities will also be notified, and shall be excluded from using any area designed as “allergen-free.”

• Provide all families with a copy of food allergy guidelines as well as a listing of resources listing regarding food allergies, such as Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN – See attached).

• Identify a core team of, but not limited to, the child’s physician, school principal, school nurse, teacher, guidance counselor, and child nutrition manager to work with the parents and student (age appropriate) to establish a food allergy action plan specific to that child.  Changes will be made as necessary with team participation.

• Consult with local emergency management personnel to establish and/or update emergency protocols and drill procedures as needed.

• Educate staff who interact with students with food allergies, on a regular basis so they understand food allergy, can recognize symptoms, can take emergency action, and will work with other school staff to eliminate the use of food allergens in the lunch program, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.

• Identify school personnel who are properly trained to administer medications in accordance with state nursing and Good Samaritan laws governing the administration of emergency medications.

• Coordinate with the school nurse to assure that medications are stored appropriately (easily accessible, secure location such as the main office) and that an emergency kit is readily available and contains a physician’s standing order for epinephrine.

• Practice the food allergy action plan as a drill to assure the efficiency/effectiveness of the plan.  Emergency protocols shall be updated as needed with team participation.

• Review the food allergy action plan with core team members and physician as soon as possible following a reaction.

• Work with bus companies to determine appropriate management of transportation needs.

• Discuss planned field trips as a team to decide appropriate strategies for managing the child’s food allergy.  Encourage parents of the child to participate as chaperones.

• Take seriously threats or harassment against an allergic child.
  
  

Everyone’s Responsibility:

• Read information made available by the school regarding food allergies.  Any questions regarding the food allergy guidelines should be directed to the school principal or school nurse.

• Understand the seriousness of food allergies and consider how food choices may impact the lives of severely allergic students.
• Promote understanding, acceptance, and compassion.

Medication Given at School

Giving medication to students at school requires the utmost care and caution on the part of school staff.  The danger of a student receiving an incorrect medication puts the student’s health at risk and places the school and employees in legal jeopardy.  The board of education has established policies and procedures for the safe administration of medications at school, including the following:

The principal designates in writing which school employees may administer medications to students.

The school nurse:

• Is responsible for the design, implementation and monitoring of procedures for administering and storing of all medications;
• Communicates between the physician, parent, student, and school personnel concerning medications;
• Is responsible for acquainting school personnel with the purposes of medications, possible side effects, and observable reactions expected;
• Provides an annual in-service for principals, teachers, and those designated to administer medications, describing proper techniques and discussing safety issues.  The nurse then provides ongoing monitoring for safe practices during the school year.

Designated school employees:

• Are responsible for knowing and following the policy and correct procedures outlined for administering medications at school;
• Report to the principal and the school nurse any noted discrepancies in the medication orders for the student.

The school nurse will contact local physicians and pharmacists annually to remind them of the district’s medication policy.  Pharmacists will be asked to make a separate prescription container to be taken to school.

Prescription medication must be in a container that indicates the following:

• student’s name,
• name and strength of medication,
• dosage and directions for administration,
• name of physician or dentist,
• date and name of pharmacy, and
• whether the child has asthma or other disability which may require immediate dispensation of medication.

The medication must be delivered to the principal’s office in person by the parent or guardian of the student unless the medication must be retained by the student for immediate self-administration.  The medication will be accompanied by written authorization for the parent, guardian, or person having legal custody that indicates the following:

• purpose of the medication,
• time to be administered,
• whether the medication must be retained by student for self-administration,
• termination date for administering the medication, and
• other appropriate information requested by the principal or the principal’s designee.
  

Self-administration of inhaled asthma medication by a student for treatment of asthma or an anaphylaxis medication used to treat anaphylaxis is permitted with written parental information.  The parent or guardian of the student must also provide a written statement from the physician treating the student that the student has asthma or anaphylaxis and is capable of, and has been instructed in the proper method of, self-administration of medication.

Additionally:

• The parent or guardian must provide the school with an emergency supply of the student’s medication to be administered as authorized by state law.

• The school district will inform the parent or guardian of the student, in writing, and the parent or guardian shall sign a statement acknowledging, that the school district and its employees and agents shall incur no liability as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication by the student.
• Permission for the self-administration of asthma or anaphylaxis medication is effective for the school year for which it is granted and shall be renewed each subsequent school year upon fulfillment of the above requirements.
• A student who is permitted to self-administer asthma or anaphylaxis medication shall be permitted to possess and use a prescribed inhaler or anaphylaxis medication at all times.
  
  
  

Definitions:

Medication means a metered dose inhaler or a dry powder inhaler to alleviate asthmatic symptoms, prescribed by a physician and having an individual label, or an anaphylaxis medication used to treat anaphylaxis, including but not limited to Epinephrine injectors, prescribed by a physician and having an individual label.

Self-administration means a student’s use of medication pursuant to prescription or written direction from a physician.

Non-prescription medication may only be administered for a specific short-term illness and only for the duration of the illness (i.e., cough, cold, toothache).  The medication will be administered in accordance with label directions or written instructions from the student’s physician.  School must also be able to determine whether the medication is out of date.

The medication must be delivered to the principal’s office in person by the parent or guardian of the student.  The medication will be accompanied by written authorization from the parent, guardian, or person having legal custody that indicates the following:

• purpose of the medication,
• time to be administered,
• termination date for administering the medication, and
• other appropriate information requested by the principal or the principal’s designee.

The school will not keep a supply of non-prescription medications for the purpose of dispensing at a parents’ request.

For all health concerns about your child, please visit with your school nurse.

Ill Children

A child, who is obviously ill (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) or has a fever, should not be sent to school until they are fever free & symptom free for at least 24 hours.  If a child becomes seriously ill at school, we will contact a parent immediately.  If we cannot reach the parent, we will use the emergency contact information that the parent has provided.  Students have as many days to make up missed work as the number of days they were out of school due to absences.

It is the parent’s responsibility to keep the school office current on changes of address and phone numbers for the parent and for their emergency contacts.  Please remember that we cannot keep seriously ill children at school.

Child Abuse

The employees of Ardmore City Schools believe in the welfare of all students and are committed to their safety and well-being.  It is required by Oklahoma law that any teacher or other school employee having reason to believe that any child has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon them other than by accidental means where the injury appears to have been caused as a result of physical abuse or neglect, shall report the matter to the Department of Human Services at Toll Free HOTLINE 1-800-522-3511

Bullying & Harassment Prevention

It is the policy of this school district that bullying of students by other students, personnel, or the public will not be tolerated.  Students are expected to be civil, polite, and fully engaged in the learning process.  Students who act inappropriately are not fully engaged in the learning process.  This policy is in effect while the students are on school grounds, in school vehicles, at designated bus stops, at school-sponsored activities, or at school-sanctioned events, and while away from school grounds if the misconduct directly affects the good order, efficient management, and welfare of the school district.  Bullying of students by electronic communication is prohibited whether or not such communication originated at school or with school equipment, if the communication is specifically directed at students or school personnel and concerns harassment, intimidation, or bullying at school.  The school district is not required to provide educational services in the regular school setting to any student who has been removed from a public school or private school in Oklahoma or another state by administrative or judicial process for an act of using electronic communication with the intent to terrify, intimidate or harass, or threaten to inflict injury or physical harm to faculty or students.

(Investigation Procedures)

The following procedures will be used by any person for the filing, processing, and resolution of a reported incident of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or threatening behavior.  The procedures are to be followed by the administration of the school district in an effort to determine the severity of the incident and the potential to result in future violence.


Definitions

Bullying means any pattern of harassment, intimidation, threatening behavior, physical acts, verbal or electronic communication directed toward a student or group of students that results in or is reasonably perceived as being done with the intent to cause negative educational or physical results for the targeted individual or group and is communicated in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student.

• Electronic communication means the communication of any written, verbal, pictorial information or video content by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, a mobile or cellular telephone or other wireless communication device, or a computer.
  
  

Threatening behavior means any pattern of behavior or isolated action, whether or not it is directed at another person, that a reasonable person would believe indicates potential for future harm to students, school personnel, or school property.

Procedures

The procedure for investigating reported incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying or threatening behavior, is as follows:

The matter should immediately be reported to the building principal.  The Harassment/Bullying form (FD-F.3) should be completed for each reported incident by the person reporting the incident or the person having knowledge of the bullying.  If the bullying involved an electronic communication, a printed copy of the communication as well as any identifying information such as email address or web address shall be provided to the building principal.  As much detailed information as possible should be provided to the building principal in written form to allow for a thorough investigation of the matter.

Upon receipt of a written report or form, the building principal shall contact the superintendent and begin an investigation to determine the severity of the incident and the potential for future violence.

If, during the course of the investigation, it appears that a crime may have been committed the building principal and/or superintendent shall notify local law enforcement and request that the alleged victim also contact law enforcement to report the matter for potential criminal investigation.

If it is determined that the school district’s discipline code has been violated, the building principal shall follow district policies regarding the discipline of the student.  The building principal shall make a determination as to whether the conduct is actually occurring.  If it is determined that an act of bullying has occurred, a referral will be made to a delinquency prevention and diversion program administered by the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Upon completion of the investigation, the principal or superintendent may recommend that available community mental health care substance abuse or other counseling options be provided to the student, if appropriate.  This may include information about the types of support services available to the student bully, victim and any other students affected by the prohibited behavior.  If such a recommendation is made, the administration shall request disclosure of any information that indicates an explicit threat to the safety of students or school personnel provided the disclosure of information does not violate the provisions or requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Section 2503 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Section 1376 of Title 59 of Oklahoma Statutes, or any other state or federal laws relating to the disclosure of confidential information.

Upon completion of an investigation, timely notification shall be provided to the parents or guardians of a victim of documented and verified bullying.  This information should be provided within 5 school days of the conclusion of the investigation.

Upon completion of an investigation, timely notification shall be provided to the perpetrator of the documented and verified bullying.  This information should be provided within 5 school days of the conclusion of the investigation.

Reports may be made anonymously.  However, no formal disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.  Reports shall be made immediately to the building principal by any school employee that has reliable information that would lead a reasonable person to suspect that a person is a target of bullying,

The Superintendent shall be responsible for enforcing this policy.  The building principal should notify the superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours of any report of bullying.  Upon completion of an investigation, the building principal should notify the superintendent of the findings of the investigation.  Documentation should also be provided to the superintendent to establish that timely notification was provided to the parents of the victim and the parents of the perpetrator.

⇨ Tab to submit a complaint

Student Safety
A safe school environment shall be sought at all times.  Students shall be instructed continuously in principles of safety.

• The principal shall be responsible for conditions of school buildings and grounds.  Any unsafe condition shall be reported immediately to the Director of Operations.

• Fire, tornado and other disaster drills shall be held regularly as required by the state fire marshal’s regulations and more often if deemed necessary by the principal.

• School playgrounds and campuses shall be supervised at all times during activity periods.

• Any injury to or illness of a student shall be promptly reported to the building principal or proper persons in authority.  Notification of student’s parents or guardian of such injury or illness shall also be prompt to ensure proper medical attention to the student if such attention is warranted.

• A member of the faculty must be present at any time there is a gathering of students in a school building.  This rule applies to all rehearsals, committee meetings, etc., and no exceptions will be permitted.

• Faculty members or responsible chaperones must be present on all official field trips and at all approved activities where students participate as representatives of the school district.  The degree of supervision on such trips and at such activities shall be determined by the school administration after consultation with sponsoring faculty members.