My child needs to take medication on campus. What do I need to do?
District staff cannot administer any medication on campus without a medication at school order. This includes over the counter medications such as tylenol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, eye drops, etc. Please visit our
Health Forms page to print the appropriate form for your healthcare provider to complete. Don't forget to sign the parent permission section of the form.
Can my student carry their own medications while on campus?
All medications present on campus require a
medication-at-school order signed by the healthcare provider and the parent. This order must specify if a student is authorized to self-carry their medications and self-administer if needed. Furthermore, the principal and nurse will take into account the age, maturity and capability of the student; the nature of the medication; the circumstances under which the student will or may have to self-administer the medication and other issues relevant in the specific case before authorizing a student to carry and/or self-administer medication at school. Except in the case of multi-dose devices (like asthma inhalers), students will only carry one day’s supply of medication at a time. Violations of any conditions placed on the student permitted to carry and/or self-administer his or her own medication may result in termination of that permission, as well as the imposition of discipline when appropriate. Reference:
Board Policy 3416P
Why does my student need an Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) or an Emergency Care Plan (ECP)?
School districts are required to designate a qualified employee to create plans to care for a student's chronic and/or life threatening health conditions. A life threatening health condition means a condition that will put the child in danger of death during the school day if a medication or treatment order providing authority to a registered nurse and Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP) are not in place. Reference:
RCW 28A.210.320
The dose of my student's medication has changed. Can I just let you know?
No. Any change to the medication, dose, or frequency of the medication requires a new medication at school order.
My student is going on an overnight field trip, and takes medication at bedtime. Can I just pack the medications with them?
No. You must obtain a separate completed
medication at school order form for each medication your student will take while in the District's care. All paperwork must be submitted to the school health room at least 14 days prior to the field trip. Reference:
Board Policy 2320
My student's prescription cannot be filled until next week. Can my student still attend school while we wait for the medication?
If your student has a life-saving medication prescribed for emergencies (such as an EpiPen, glucagon, or seizure medications), then the medication and a completed medication at school order form must be delivered to your student's school prior to their first day of attendance. If your student takes medication that is not for emergencies (for example ADHD medications or migraine medications) then they may still attend school without their medications.
My student needs frequent access to the bathroom. How can my student be accommodated?
We strive for equity and inclusion. Please contact your school health room or email
health_services@sumnersd.org so we can discuss your student's specific needs.
What immunizations does my child need to attend school? What if I don't want my student to receive a particular vaccine?
Please see our
Immunizations page for more information. Immunizations are required for students all the way through 12th grade.
My student plays sports and/or attends after-school clubs/events. Is the school health room staff present during that time?
The school health room is only staffed during school hours, during the traditional school year. Furthermore, medications locked in the health room are not accessible to school staff outside of school hours. If your student has a life-threatening health condition and will be on campus outside of school hours, please reach out to
your school health room so we can collaborate on a plan for your student.
My student has food allergies, how does the district manage this?
Classrooms with students with life-threatening allergies are designated Allergy Aware Classrooms. Even with the District’s best efforts, staff and parents/guardians need to be aware that it is not possible to achieve a completely allergen-free environment. However, the District will take precautions to reduce the risk of a student having an anaphylactic reaction by developing strategies to minimize the presence of allergens in schools. Families can fill out a special dietary request form. Find more information
here.
Reference: Board policy on anaphylaxis prevention and response, No.
3420 and
3420P
