The Board of Education shall not be responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. The administration of prescribed medication and/or medically-prescribed treatments to a student during school hours will be permitted only when failure to do so would jeopardize the health of the student, the student would not be able to attend school if the medication or treatment were not made available during school hours, or if the child is disabled and requires medication to benefit from his/her educational program.

For purposes of this policy, "medication" shall include all medicines including those prescribed by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and any nonprescribed (over-the-counter) drugs, preparations, and/or remedies. "Treatment" refers both to the manner in which a medication is administered and to health-care procedures which require special training, such as catheterization. No narcotics shall be administered at school.

Before any prescribed medication (i.e., a drug) or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, the Board shall require a written statement from a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs ("prescriber") accompanied by the written authorization of the parent (see Form 5330 F1). Before any nonprescribed medication or treatment may be administered, the Board shall require the prior written consent of the parent along with a waiver of any liability of the District for the administration of the medication (see Form 5330 F1a and Form 5330 F1b. These documents shall be kept in the office of the school clinic, and made available to the persons designated by this policy as authorized to administer medication or treatment within one day of school district receipt. No student is allowed to provide or sell any type of over-the-counter medication or prescription medication to another student. Violations of this rule will be considered violations of Policy 5530 - Drug Prevention and of the Student Code of Conduct/Discipline Code.

Only medication in its original container; labeled with the date, if a prescription; the student's name; and exact dosage will be administered. The Superintendent shall determine a location in each building where the medications to be administered under this policy shall be stored, which shall be a locked storage place, unless the medications require refrigeration in which case they shall be stored in a refrigerator in a place not commonly used by students. Parents, or students authorized in writing by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, and parents, may administer medication or treatment. Parent-supplied nonprescription medications shall only be administered at the dosage indicated on the manufacturer's packaging for the child's age and/or weight. Any dosage greater than manufacturer recommended must be accompanied by Physician's Statement. (see Form 5330 F1)

However, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as necessary, an asthma inhaler, provided the student has prior written permission from his/her parent and physician and has submitted Form 5330 F3, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Asthma Inhalers/Other Emergency Medication(s), to the principal and any school nurse assigned to the building.

Additionally, students shall be permitted to carry and use, as necessary, an epinephrine autoinjector to treat anaphylaxis, provided the student has prior written approval from the prescriber of the medication and his/her parent/guardian, if the student is a minor, and has submitted written approval (Form 5330 F4, Authorization for the Possession and Use of Epinephrine Autoinjector (epi-pen)) to the principal and any school health staff assigned to the building. The parent/guardian or the student shall provide a back-up dose of the medication to the principal or school nurse. This permission shall extend to any activity, event, or program sponsored by the school or in which the school participates. In the event epinephrine is administered by the student or a school employee at school or at any of the covered events, a school employee shall immediately request assistance from an emergency medical service provider (911).

For students in grades 6-12 attending extracurricular/co-curricular overnight trips, parents will be required to complete a separate emergency authorization Form 5330 F1a.

For grades 6-12 extracurricular/co-curricular overnight trips only, ibuprophen and Acetaminophen will be supplied and stored by the appropriate middle or high school staff members (due to limited space availability on the trips. Form 2340 F5, requires a parent signature for the administration of specified nonprescription medications. This exception to policy will not apply to other prescription or nonprescription medications that may be needed during an extracurricular of co-curricluar overnight trip. If other prescription or over-the-counter medications are needed by a student during an extracurricular of cor-curricular overnight trip, Forms 5330 F1, 5330 F1a, 5330 F2, and 5330 F3 requirements and procedures will apply.

The following staff are designated as being authorized to administer medication and treatment to students:

No employee will be required to administer a drug to a student if the employee objects, on the basis of religious convictions, to administering the drug.

Additionally the Board shall permit the administration by a licensed nurse or other authorized staff member of any medication requiring intravenous or intramuscular injection or the insertion of a device into the body when both the medication and the procedure are prescribed by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs and the nurse/staff member has completed any and all necessary training.

Students who may require administration of an emergency medication may have such medication in their possession upon written authorization of their parent(s) or, such medication, upon being identified as aforenoted, may be stored in the health clinic office and administered in accord with this policy.

The Superintendent shall prepare administrative guidelines, as needed, to address the proper implementation of this policy.

R.C. 3313.712, 3313.713, 3313.716, 4729.01

Adopted 1/26/09
Revised 1/4/10