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, confirmed positive/ diagnosis of COVID-19, and/ or post exposure to COVID-19 positive case quarantine, including but not limited to the following scenarios: 

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. For Pertinent Exposure: Examples of this could include recent travel including international travel or travel to a state listed on the NYSDOH travel advisory website  (https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-19-travel-advisory) where precautionary quarantine should be completed for 14 days from the date when the person left the restricted state or after completion of mandatory quarantine following exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case.
3. 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 no subsequent illness after completing their quarantine period (for scenario 2 above) OR the individual has successfully completed their isolation period and meet the current CDC clearance guidance (for scenario 3 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 14 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.

When Should my Child Stay Home?

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
NOTE: Hearing, Vision, and Scoliosis screenings will be waived for the 2020-2021 school year due to the COVID-19 crisis, unless such screening has otherwise been deemed necessary, pursuant to an amendment to Commissioner's Regulations section 136.3(e). 
 

Immunizations

Updated November 12, 2020:

[The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) is the entity charged with enforcement of the requirement that schools comply with Public Health Law § 2164. NYSDOH finds there has been difficulty in obtaining required vaccinations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in inability for some students to meet the vaccination requirements. On October 12, 2020, NYS DOH suspended enforcement of required vaccinations for students to attend school for a period of 30 days, only for students attending school exclusively remotely, if such student intends to obtain the required vaccinations in the coming 30 days.

This grace period is extended for another 30 days through December 11, 2020, only for students attending school exclusively remotely, if such student intends to obtain the required vaccinations in the coming 30 days.]

Updated November 2, 2020:

[Public Health Law § 2164 requires each Pre-K through Grade 12 student to satisfy certain vaccination requirements as a condition of attending school. These requirements are listed in the 2020-21 School Year New York State Immunization Requirements for School Entrance/Attendance. • The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) is the entity charged with enforcement the requirement that schools comply with Public Health Law § 2164. • NYS DOH finds there has been difficulty in obtaining required vaccinations as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, resulting in inability for some students to meet the vaccination requirements. • NYS DOH is therefore suspending enforcement of required vaccinations for students to attend school for a period of 30 days, only for students attending school exclusively remotely, if such student intends to obtain the required vaccinations in the coming 30 days. • For students using remote learning exclusively, if a school does not receive proof of all required vaccinations by 30 days from the date of this letter, the school shall not permit the student to attend, including through remote learning, until such proof has been received.] 

The immunization requirements chart is available below. In addition, on June 13, 2019, the Governor of New York signed into law legislation that eliminated religious exemptions for immunizations.  Please speak with the nurse’s office in the building your children attend if you have any questions. For more information download the NYS School Vaccination Parent Brochure. 

Video regarding New York State mandated Immunizations and Physical Exams. 

Todos los estudiantes, independientemente del estilo de aprendizaje (virtual, en persona, híbrido) deben tener las vacunas actualizadas según el Departamento de Salud para asistir a una escuela de NECSD para el año escolar 2020-2021. Puede encontrar información para las familias sobre el calendario de vacunas aquí.  

Puede encontrar más información, incluso videos sobre inmunizaciones, en nuestro sitio web bajo el encabezado del departamento Servicios de salud.

2020: Vacunas recomendadas para niños, desde el nacimiento hasta los 6 años de edad
2020: Vacunas recomendadas para los niños desde los 7 hasta los 18 años de edad

Según la primera fecha de clases, las fechas de exclusión serán las siguientes:

Fecha de exclusión de 14 días: 22/09/2020
Fecha de exclusión de 30 días: 8/10/2020 (transferencia desde fuera del estado o fuera del país)

Servicios de Salud sobre las vacunas y los exámenes físicos obligatorios del estado de Nueva York.