Students with lice may soon be able to remain in class instead of being sent home for treatment, under proposed policy changes at the Thames Valley District School Board.
Currently, students with head lice are sent home and only allowed to return to school after receiving treatment with no further evidence of lice or nits. But a draft policy change of that procedure now states "there is no medical evidence to exclude a student from class/school."
As part of the proposed new procedures, school administrators would contact parents or guardians about the infestation. The student would then be sent home with information and a treatment plan checklist, that is to be signed and brought back the following day. A letter to parents or guardians of other students in the same class as the child with lice will also be sent home.
The treatment plan checklist asks if parents have read the provided information, used a recommended lice treatment, and agree to check all members of the household and do daily lice checks for the next ten days.
Teachers are asked to report suspected cases of lice to the school administrator and once a case is identified to limit activities in the classroom where heads would touch.
The main focus of the reworked policy is to ensure students with lice are treated with dignity to reduce any stigma or embarrassment during the handling of the situation.
The school board is asking for parent input on the proposed change until May 29.
If approved the new procedures could be in place by September.
To read or provide input on the Pediculosis Independent Procedure click here.
