ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS

The Board of Education recognizes that it is necessary for the critical health and well-being of students in certain circumstances to take medication during school hours. The Board authorizes school personnel to administer to students, or to allow the self-administration of, both prescription and over-the-counter medication during the school day when students require such medication in an emergency, in order to attend school, or in order to gain access to the educational programs of the District. The Board also authorizes school personnel to render additional emergency medical assistance when necessary to protect the students' health, safety and welfare.

The Superintendent is authorized to establish rules and regulations to implement this Policy, which rules and regulations shall include a designation of employees authorized to administer medication, the manner in which both prescription and over-the-counter medication will be administered to students, and procedures for self-administration by students.

1.  Authorization For the Administration/Self Administration of Medication and Emergency Medical Assistance

A. School employees shall not administer to a student or permit a student to self-administer prescription or over-the-counter medication in a non-emergency situation unless a completed Medication Administration/Self-Administration Consent Form is obtained. Such form shall contain the following:

A. written order from the student's physician, dentist or other person legally authorized to prescribe medication. The written order shall contain:

1. a. the student's name;
    b. date of birth;
    c. licensed prescriber's name, signature, and phone number;
    d. name of medication;
    e. whether the prescribed medication is for an asthmatic condition;
    f. dosage of medication;
    g. route of administration of medication;
    h. frequency and time of administration of medication;
    i. date of prescription and order;
    j. discontinuation date;
    k. diagnosis requiring medication;
    l. intended effect of medication;
    m. possible side effects;
    n. other medications the student is receiving;
    o. other requirements or special circumstances;
    p. whether student possession and self-administration is authorized; and

2. A written request and waiver of liability from the parents/guardians requesting the administration of medication by school employees or requesting that the District permit the student to self-administer his/her medication.

B. Emergency medical assistance shall be provided, during school hours or a school sponsored activities, to all students whose parents/guardians have signed a written authorization for the provision of such assistance.

C. Authorizations required by this Section shall be placed in the student's cumulative file, with a copy to the school nurse, health clerk, or principal of the school which the student attends.

2.  Administration of Medication
When the conditions contained in Section I.A of these Rules and Regulations are satisfied, medication shall be administered to students in the following manner:

A. Prescription medications shall be brought to school by an adult only. No medications are allowed to be brought on the school bus or to school by a student. Prescription medications must also be in the original container which shall display:

1. the student's name;

2. prescription number;

3. medication name, dosage, route of administration and other required directions;

4. licensed prescriber's name;

5. date and refill instructions;

6. pharmacy name, address, and phone number;

7. name or initials of pharmacist.

B. Over-the-counter medications shall be brought to school in their unopened original container with the seal unbroken and the student's name affixed to the container.

C. All medications shall be stored in a separate locked or secure area. Medications requiring refrigeration shall be refrigerated in a secure area.

D. The principal shall designate the employee or employees authorized to dispense the medication including employees who are required to administer medication in an emergency situation. Teachers or other non-administrative school employees, except school nurses, who may be certificated or non-certificated, registered professional nurses, shall not be required to administer medication to students. However, such employees may be so designated if they agree or volunteer to administer the medication. When necessary, the school nurse or health clerk shall instruct these employees concerning the manner in which the medication shall be administered, the circumstances requiring the administration of medication and the possible side effects.

E. Each dose of medication shall be documented for the student's health records. Documentation shall include date, time, dosage and route and signature or initials of the person administering or supervising the administration of the medication. In the event the medication is not administered as ordered, the reasons therefore shall be entered in the record.

F. When requested by the student's physician, the medication's effectiveness and side effects shall be assessed and documented.

B. SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION

If a parent/guardian authorizes a student's self-administration of medication, the procedures set forth in these Rules and Regulations concerning the administration of medication by school personnel shall be followed, including completion of a Medication Administration/Self-Administration Consent Form. Self-administration of all medications shall be in the presence of designated school personnel and the medication shall be stored by the District. However, a student with an asthmatic condition who is prescribed asthma medication by a physician, or other medical professional authorized to prescribe asthma medication under the law, may possess and use his/her asthma medication during school or at school sponsored activities without the supervision of District personnel provided his or her parent/guardian has so authorized on the Medication Administration/Self-Administration Consent Form.

C. DISCRETIONARY ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION
If a parent/guardian consents to the administration of medication on a discretionary basis, the school nurse or health clerk shall provide the necessary information and instructions for the administration of the medication including detailing any side effects to the designated personnel. The administration of medication on a discretionary basis shall be done only by a school nurse, who may be a certificated or a non-certificated registered professional nurse or a previously designated and instructed employee after consultation with and approval of the school nurse.

D. DISPOSAL OF MEDICATION
The parents/guardians of a student will be responsible at the end of the treatment regime for removing from the school any unused medication which was prescribed for their child. If the parent/guardian does not pick up the medication by the end of the school year, the school nurse will dispose of the medication and document that the medication was discarded. Medications will be discarded in the presence of a witness.

E. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES
Students shall not allow other students to carry, possess or use their prescription or non-prescription medication, and violation of this rule may result in discipline.

F. EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT
School personnel shall render emergency medical assistance to any student whose parents/guardians have authorized such assistance when paramedical personnel or licensed physicians are not available or have not arrived and such assistance is necessary to protect the student's health, safety or welfare. The school personnel providing emergency medical assistance shall attempt to contact the principal as soon as possible and contact a licensed physician or certified paramedical personnel to provide or assist in providing emergency medical assistance.

The student's parent/guardian shall be contacted as soon as possible after the injury giving rise to the need for emergency medical assistance.