Head Lice

As we enter the winter season the potential for head lice seems to increase due to the use of heavier coats and hats by our students. The issue of head lice is one that often causes strain on families and the school. In the coming days we will be communicating with all parents about this issue in an attempt to increase understanding about “head lice” as well as District policies and procedures for dealing with head lice.


Here is the procedure followed by our schools with regard to head lice:

• When a parent notifies the school that a child has lice we check the classmates of that child to insure that the lice have not spread to other students.


• If a child is found to have lice at school, the child is sent home immediately with instructions on how to eliminate the lice. Once the child has been treated he/she may return to school.


• Mrs. Heckman, our school nurse, checks all students who have been treated for lice after seven days to insure that they are free of lice.


• When a child is confirmed to have lice in school, the classroom is vacuumed and desks and chairs cleaned in the event that a louse has jumped off the infected child.


• The District complies with all suggestions of the Center for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics, and DuPage County Health Department. To our knowledge there are no additional steps that we can take to reduce the incidence of lice in the school setting.


• We rely heavily on parents of students to control the spread of lice! Parents are an essential part of the solution to reduce lice!
  

Future communications will include information about lice facts to help all of completely understand this issue. Should you have specific questions about this issue please contact your