Health Services

General Information
School Health Services takes a leadership role in assessing health risk factors and promotes resilience to ensure students achieve optimal health and well being.

A team comprised of a health services coordinator, school physician, school nurse teacher, school nurse practitioner, aide, and clerk work collaboratively with parents and the medical and school communities to address the medical, social, and educational needs of district children and youth in grades Pre-K through 12th.

All district schools have a knowledgeable, well-staffed and well-equipped health office which promotes healthy attitudes and behaviors while emphasizing preventive health care.

COVID-19 Return to School Information
This is guidance clarification for all Orange County schools, as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In lieu of NYSDOH/NYSED official written guidance, a health care provider’s note will be required to return to school if any member of the school (student, staff, or faculty) is not attending due to potential symptom(s) of COVID-19 or a confirmed positive/ diagnosis of COVID-19. 

1. For a COVID-Related Symptom: If a student/staff/faculty member displays a COVID-19-related symptom, they must obtain a healthcare provider note to return to school. Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are NOT limited to: fever or chills (100 degrees F or greater, persistent cough, shortness of breath of difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained rash, pinkeye.
2. Following COVID-19 Diagnosis and Subsequent Isolation Period: If a student/staff/faculty member tests positive for the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19, they must have a health care provider note AND the following conditions must be met: symptom resolution, at least 10 days have passed sine the onset of symptoms for symptomatic individuals or 10 days from the collection date (test date) of the positive COVID-19 test for asymptomatic individuals; AND at least 24 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medication. A negative COVID-19 test will not be required, unless specifically requested by the Department of Health, but may be provided in addition to the health care provider’s note.

 Healthcare provider notes must include AT MINIMUM the following information:

1. The individual is cleared to return to school/work
2. The individual has an alternate diagnosis unrelated to COVID (for scenario number 1 above) OR the individual has successfully completed their isolation period and meet the current CDC clearance guidance (for scenario 2 above).
3. The alternate diagnosis does not have to be listed in the note, but may need to be discussed confidentially with the school nurse and/ or the local health department.

The health care provider clearance note will assist with mitigating the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 in a congregate school environment, as we work collectively to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and residents. 

School nurses CAN use their clinical judgement  when deciding to send a child or staff/faculty member home from school or work due to suspected potential COVID-19-related illness, and or based on exposure potential. 

Please note that individuals exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will need to quarantine for 10 days from their last date of exposure. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 may be released from isolation as soon as 10 days depending on symptom resolution. This is due to the incubation period of the virus, how long it may take someone to become ill after being exposed to the virus.

Physical Examinations
Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is extending the timeframe for students to provide a health examination for school attendance for the 2020-2021 school year. Effective May 11, 2021 the Board of Regents approved emergency action to amend Commissioner’s Regulations 136.3(b) and (c) for the 2020-2021 school year permitting a student who is unable to obtain a health examination in the required grade due to the COVID19 crisis to have until September 1, 2021 to provide the required health examination to the school.

When Should my Child Stay Home?

Please keep your child home and/or contact your child’s doctor for:

• Fever greater than 100.4° (taken by mouth)
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
• Severe sore throat along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours, or after exposure to Strep throat infection
• Honey-crusted sores around the nose or mouth or rash on other body parts
• Large amounts of mucous (liquid) from their nose, with face pain or headache
• Severe ear pain or fluid coming from the ear
• Severe headache, especially with fever

   

Prevent the Flu
Fight Flu at Home and School. Flu, or influenza, spreads easily and can make people very sick, especially kids. You can help stop flu! Read more information here. // Combatan la gripe en casa y en la escuela. La gripe, o influenza, se contagia fácilmente y puede hacer que las personas se enfermen mucho, en especial los niños. ¡Ustedes pueden ayudar a prevenir la gripe! Lea más información aquí.

Emergency Information
Emergency information cards are sent home the first week of school. This card should be filled in immediately and returned to school. The information on this card will help us contact you in case of an emergency. It is important that you notify the School Health Office of any changes in information during the school year.

Dispensing of Medication
If a student must take medication in school during school hours, the medication must be in the original container, with the following information: date prescribed, student’s name, name of medication, dose, and time to be administered. A parental permission form and physician’s order must accompany all medication.

Health Screenings
Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department is extending the timeframe for students to provide a health examination for school attendance for the 2020-2021 school year. Effective May 11, 2021 the Board of Regents approved emergency action to amend Commissioner’s Regulations 136.3(b) and (c) for the 2020-2021 school year permitting a student who is unable to obtain a health examination in the required grade due to the COVID19 crisis to have until September 1, 2021 to provide the required health examination to the school.
 

Immunizations

Updated June 1, 2021 from NYS: 

As we look ahead to the upcoming 2021-2022 school year, we want to remind you that we expect schools to fully comply with PHL Section 2164 immunization coverage and reporting requirements. As partners in prevention, we all need to remain vigilant to protect the children in this state against all vaccine-preventable diseases.

As we all continue to face challenges related to the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are aware that some  students may have missed doses of vaccines that were due this past year. Most primary care providers and Local Health Departments have now resumed administering routine vaccines. Therefore, NYSDOH expects any students  who missed doses of vaccines due to COVID-19 to receive any overdue doses within 14 days after entry into the 2021-2022 school year, regardless of in-person or remote school attendance; this may be extended to 30 days for
students transferring from out-of-state or another country.

Updated May 11, 2021: 

Effective May 11, 2021 the Board of Regents approved emergency action to amend Commissioner’s Regulations 136.3(b) and (c) for the 2020-2021 school year permitting a student who is unable to obtain a health examination in the required grade due to the COVID19 crisis to have until September 1, 2021 to provide the required health examination to the school.

Updated April 10, 2021: 

The NYSDOH will exercise discretion with respect to enforcement of school vaccination requirements and will not enforce the provisions of Public Health Law § 2164(7) commencing from the date of this letter through the end of the 2020-21 school year, June 30, 2021,for students attending school exclusively through remote learning. As a condition of attending remote learning activities during this grace period, parents of remote learning students must submit an affidavit, in a form and manner determined by the school, acknowledging intention to obtain the appropriate vaccinations during the grace period.
Please note that, as in past school years, schools must continue to prohibit any student from attending school in-person, where the school has not received evidence of all required vaccinations within 14 days from the first day of admission.