District Nurse

Many illnesses do not require a child to stay home from school. However, children may be excluded from school if the illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in school activities or if there is risk of spread of harmful disease to others.

This list represents the most common reasons why a child should remain home from school.  Please work with your school’s health aide and/or our district nurse if you are uncertain or have questions.

We refer to the state and local health department for guidance on all health-related concerns.

Criteria includes:

Abdominal Pain: A child with abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours, or intermittent pain associated with fever or other symptoms.

Diarrhea: A child has two loose bowel movements, even if there are no other signs of illness. The child should have no loose stools for 24 hours prior to returning to school.  Exception: A healthcare provider has determined it is not infectious.  Diarrhea may occasionally be caused by antibiotics, new foods a child has eaten, or teething. Call the parent to find out if there is a non-medical reason for the loose bowel movements.

Fever: A child with a temperature of 101°F or greater AND behavior changes or other signs or symptoms (e.g., sore throat, rash, vomiting, or diarrhea). The child should not return until 24 hours of no fever, without the use of fever - reducing medications. Note: If there is influenza-like-activity or COVID-19-like-activity in the school or in the community, criteria would also include a temperature over 100.4°F and respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, sore throat)

Ill appearance: This could include a child that is not himself or herself, lethargic, persistently crying, has difficulty breathing or has a rapidly spreading rash. 

Injury: Whenever an injury is serious enough to need a health care provider’s attention, a parent should be contacted to take the child home. 

Rash: A child with a rash AND a fever or a change in behavior. Any rash illness and fever should be checked by a healthcare provider.  There are different rules for returning to school depending on the cause of the rash.  Note: Rapidly spreading bruising or small blood spots under the skin need immediate medical attention. 

Skin Sores: A child with weeping sores on an exposed area that cannot be covered with waterproof dressing. 

 Vomiting: A child that has vomited two or more times. The child should have no vomiting for 24 hours prior to returning to school. Exception: A healthcare provider has determined it is not infectious. 

Certain Communicable Diseases: Children and staff diagnosed with certain communicable diseases, including COVID-19, may have to be excluded for a certain period. 

While not an emergency, children with the following diseases should remain at home until successfully treated: impetigo, lice, ringworm, and scabies.  Michigan Head Lice Manual

Macomb County Health Department - Information on common childhood diseases and when an infected individual can be readmitted to school.

Managing Communicable Diseases in Schools

We no longer need to isolate for 5 days. See CDC recommendations below.

• You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
  • Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
  • You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).
• When you go back to your normal activities, take added precaution over the next 5 days, such as taking additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be around other people indoors.
  • Keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better. You are likely to be less contagious at this time, depending on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were.
  • If you develop a fever or you start to feel worse after you have gone back to normal activities, stay home and away from others again until, for at least 24 hours, both are true: your symptoms are improving overall, and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication). Then take added precaution for the next 5 days.

CDC Guidelines 2025

My Schools Menus

Chippewa Valley Schools nutrition information for carb counting and allergen information.

Book: Policy Manual
Section: 5000 Students
Title: Use of Medications
Cod: po5330
Status:Active
Adopted: July 1, 2003
Last Revised: August 1, 2003

5330 - Use of Medications

The Board of Education shall not be responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. The administration of prescribed medication and/or medically-prescribed treatments to a student during school hours will be permitted only when failure to do so would jeopardize the health of the student, the student would not be able to attend school if the medication or treatment were not made available during school hours, or the child is disabled and requires medication to benefit from his/her educational program.

For purposes of this policy, "medication" shall include all medicines including those prescribed by a physician and any nonprescribed (over-the-counter) drugs, preparations, and/or remedies. "Treatment" refers both to the manner in which a medication is administered and to health-care procedures which require special training, such as catheterization.

Before any medication or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, the Board shall require the written prescription from the child's physician accompanied by the written authorization of the parent. This document shall be kept on file in the administrative offices. No student is allowed to provide or sell any type of over-the-counter medication to another student. Violations of this rule will be considered violations of Policy 5530 - Drug Prevention and of the Student Code of Conduct.

Only medication in its original container; labeled with the date, if a prescription; the student's name; and exact dosage will be administered. Parents, or students authorized in writing by their physician and parents, may administer medication or treatment.

Staff members are to administer medication or treatment only in the presence of another adult, except in the case of an emergency that threatens the life or health of the student.

All staff authorized to administer medication or treatment will receive training on this policy and the Superintendent’s guidelines, as well as appropriate procedures for administering the medication or treatment. This training shall be provided by qualified individuals with both knowledge of the District’s policy and procedures and the administration of medications or treatment. Where possible, this training should be provided by a licensed registered nurse, a licensed physician’s assistant, or a licensed physician.

All medication shall be kept in a locked storage case in the school office.

The Board shall permit the administration by staff of any medication requiring intravenous or intramuscular injection or the insertion of a device into the body when both the medication and the procedure are prescribed by a physician and the staff member has completed any necessary training.

Students who may require administration of an emergency medication may have such medication in accord with the Superintendent's administrative guidelines.

The Superintendent may prepare administrative guidelines to ensure the proper implementation of this policy.

Legal
M.C.L.A. 380.1178, 380.1179
Michigan Department of Education, Model Policy and Guidelines for Administering Medications to Pupils at School