The parent/guardian will be called and the student will be sent home. Other symptoms that influence the decision to send the student home include general appearance and functioning in the classroom. After a period of observation a decision will be made to do one of the following:

• Notify the parent/guardian for symptoms of illness, as determined by the school nurse. Not all student visits to the health office will result in parents/guardians being contacted.

• Allow the student to rest in the health office for a brief period then return to class.

During times of high rates of illness, such as during influenza season, the length of time a student must remain home after fever/symptoms of illness may change as recommended by Marshall County Public Health.

• Students are to be fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication (such as Tylenol or ibuprofen)

• No active vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours

• Other symptoms improving

• COVID testing is not required to return to school

The CDC and Iowa HHS have updated the recommendations for persons diagnosed with Covid-19.  Due to the Covid-19 vaccine and boosters widely available the guidelines have become less restrictive. Iowa HHS released an updated version of Childhood Illnesses and Exclusion Criteria for Education and Child Care Settings.   It now lists Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV under a new category entitled Respiratory Illness. The CDC also updated their Respiratory Virus Guidance.  

Children with respiratory illness, including Covid, are to remain home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol or Ibuprofen) AND other symptoms are mild and improving. It is no longer required to isolate for 5 days before returning.    

Please contact your school nurse if you have questions or concerns about illness and when your student may return to school.  Please see the COVID-19 fact sheet.

Learn more: Iowa Health and Human Services COVID-19 General Public Fact Sheet

Students entering 7th grade (born after Sept. 15, 2004)- 1 dose of meningococcal vaccine received on or after age of 10 – a booster dose will be needed at age 16. Also, 7th grade-Tdap vaccination-1 dose before entering 7th grade.

Students entering 12th grade (born after Sept. 15, 1999)- 2 doses of meningococcal vaccine or 1 dose if the first vaccine was given after age 16 .  The second dose must be given after age 16 to be compliant.

NOTE: There is NO grace/extension period for this new meningitis vaccine requirement, what this means is that the law requires students be excluded from school if they have not received the immunization by the first day of school. Contact your school nurse if you have questions.

• Iowa Immunization Requirements

• School Dental Screening Requirements (Required for Kindergarten and 9th grade)

• Mandatory Lead Screening for Kindergarteners (Required for Kindergarten)

• Vision Requirement (Required for Kindergarten and 3rd grade)

Students with the following symptoms should remain home or may be sent home from school:

• Fever:  The child’s temperature must remain below 100.4 degrees for 24 hours without benefit of use of fever reducing medications before they can return to school.

• Vomiting:  The child should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Diarrhea:  The child should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.

• Cold Symptoms:  Persistent nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, cough or headaches that disrupt the student’s learning or pose a risk of disease transmission to others.

• Rash:  Unexplained skin eruptions or rashes. When in doubt, consult your child’s doctor before sending your child to school.

• Communicable Disease:  Communicable illnesses in which you have been advised to remain out of school until cleared to return by the county health department or your child’s doctor.

• Any other health condition that in the school nurses judgment is of concern for the others health and well-being and that of the child.

The school nurse or other school staff will contact you if your child becomes ill or seriously injured at school. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, other individuals listed on the emergency contact list will be contacted.  It is very important that you notify the school when there are changes to phone numbers and emergency contacts.

To minimize the spread of illness among students, report communicable diseases such as influenza, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, chickenpox etc. to the school nurse immediately.