Health Services

MISSION

Research has shown that students with an optimal level of wellness are more receptive to the learning process. Therefore, Duluth Public Schools health service staff strive to promote the health of students and promote a healthy school environment.

The primary goal of health services is to eliminate/minimize health related barriers to learning. To accomplish this, health service staff, as part of the school team, works to:

• Promote student and staff wellness.
• Provide skilled nursing.
• Protect students' well being.
• Enhance healthy behaviors.
• Encourage self-care.
• Assess and communicate student health concerns through referral to parents/guardians.

ROLES OF HEALTH OFFICE STAFF

Health Assistants provide students with daily health services through medication administration, first aid for illness and injury, and skilled nursing procedures under the delegation of the Licensed School Nurse. 

The Licensed School Nurse provides leadership of the daily health office operations, promotes health equity by connecting students and families to community health resources, and maintains continuity of care between home, medical provider, and school through medical and educational planning. The Licensed School Nurse also provides health assessment and planning throughout the Special Education process. 

HEALTH FORMS

Students requiring emergency care plan(s) and/or medication(s) that need to be given during school hours will need one or more of the following forms completed. An emergency care plan created with and signed by your student’s provider will be accepted in place of the emergency plans listed here. 

Prior to the beginning of each school year, emergency care plans and medication authorizations should be turned in to your child's school health office and reviewed with the Licensed School Nurse.

• Annual Health History
• Health History, Physical and Immunization Form
• Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan
• Seizure Individual Health Plan
• Medication Administration Form
• 7th-12th grade ONLY- Over the Counter (OTC) Pain Medication Self Administration Form
• Diabetes Medical Management Plan
• Special Diet Statement
• Dietary Preference Request Form
• Immunizations

IMMUNIZATIONS

All students must comply with Minnesota state statute 121A.15 with regards to immunizations. Exclusion from school will occur if immunizations, medical exemption or objection requirements are not met. 

District Immunization Requirements

Are Your Kids Ready?/When to get vaccines for the Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Record Form

MN Statute 121A.15

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME

Many students and parents are frequently concerned about when students should stay home or attend school. The following information is intended to help with this decision.

General practice:

• If a student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student must stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without fever reducing medication.
• If a student has vomited or had diarrhea, the student must stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If a student has had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your family physician before sending the student to school.
• If a student is ill, please call the school daily to report the illness.

When a student is sick, parents often wonder whether or not to keep a child at home from school. If a child stays home and has the care they need when first sick, they will often get better faster. Staying home and resting will help the body fight the sickness. 

Is My Child Well Enough To Go To School?

WHEN A CHILD IS SICK AT SCHOOL

If your child becomes ill at school and needs to go home, the Health Services Staff will contact a parent/guardian. Children must call from the health office and not from their cell phones.  

If staff are unable to reach parents and determine that the student must go home, emergency contacts will then be called. It's important for parents to keep emergency contacts updated and ensure that they are available during the day. Your child will not be allowed to leave school without contacting an adult.

In the event of an emergency, 911 may be called. 

HEAD LICE

Anyone can get head lice. Head lice are most often transmitted through head to head contact. School transmission is rare. Some common symptoms of head lice include: itching and scratching of the scalp and neck, feeling that something is ‘crawling’ in the hair, sores from constant scratching, and seeing lice on the scalp or nits attached to the hair shaft. If your child has any of these symptoms, please check your child’s head for lice. Also, all household members and other close contacts of the person with lice should be checked.

Should your child be found to have live lice in their hair during the school day, a parent/guardian will be contacted by a health office staff member. The students may remain in school but prompt treatment is recommended.

Head Lice Information

VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS

Students may receive hearing and/or vision screening upon request from a teacher if the teacher suspects that there may be a hearing or vision concern that is affecting the student's ability to learn. If you do not wish for your child to receive vision and/or hearing screening, please inform your school health office. The screenings are not intended to replace professional examinations.