Waukee Parents Start Petition Regarding School District's Policy on Head Lice Notices
An online petition is circulating asking the Waukee school district to change its policy on reporting incidents of head lice. Parents are also planning to attend the Sept. 10 board meeting to discuss the issue.
Editor's Note: This story originally ran Sept. 2 but we're running it again in advance of the Monday meeting of the Waukee Board of Education. Parents are asked to sign the petition (link below) if they can't attend the 7 p.m. meeting.
Parents upset about the Waukee Community School District's lack of a policy regarding the reporting of head lice in the classroom are taking action.
An online petition is gathering signatures from parents in the district who want to see the district's policy changed so parents are notified when a case of head lice is reported in their child's classroom or school.
The petition states, "This petition is intended to provide the school with a list of parents that would like to see this policy changed, and for the classroom teacher to send out a parental notification letter or e-mail to the student's parent(s) once a case of lice has been identified in the student's classroom. While the primary responsibility of lice detection and treatment lies with parents, the parents that sign this petition believe providing this additional notification to parents will provide extra incentive for parents to check their child(ren)'s hair more carefully and frequently, and take the necessary steps to prevent and treat lice. We believe this additional information provided to parents may help reduce lice infection and reinfection in Waukee schools."
In addition to the online petition, parents supporting the change plan to attend the next meeting for the Waukee school board at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, in the Waukee Community Schools District office at 560 S.E. University Ave.
The petition says: "The Waukee district's current policy is to NOT notify parents when a case or suspected case of lice has been identified in a student's classroom, or even within the school. If you would like to see this policy changed, we would like to get as many concerned parents as possible to the next Waukee School Board meeting."
To sign the petition, go to: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/waukee-district-lice-notification-policy.html
Parents interested in attending the school board meeting are asked to show up on Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. For questions or concerns, contact Wendy Marsh at wkmarsh@nyemaster.com or by calling (515) 249-0422.
In This article
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Waukee Community Schools
555 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA -
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Waukee Community Schools District Office
560 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA
Jodie Gratias
10:22 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
I also think the infected child should be sent home so treatment can begin before they have more contact with other kids. Being notified will not do much good if the child is permitted to stay in school all day. Just my opinion...
Wendy Marsh
10:31 am on Friday, August 31, 2012
Jodie - I don't disagree with you and think this is another issue that should be discussed at the school board meeting. As a practical matter, the school does not screen so the chances of the school actually finding a child with an active case of lice is slim to none. The other issue the school will raise is privacy, i.e. you don't want to embarrass a child that has the lice by sending them home and having their classmates know about it, although there are ways of doing this while still being discreet. I hope you will consider coming to the meeting on Sept. 10th!
Deb Patterson
7:58 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012
I agree with your cause but want to wish you good luck I fight this battle 6 and 7 years ago and got nowhere A. the public health department considers lice a nuisance not a health concern or health hazard. B. notifying parents that another child has any condition( as well as many other things such as discipline, attendance etc) would be in violation of the schools Privacy Practices. C. It would be discrimination to deny a child FAPE (a free and appropriate education) even if the family refuses or cannot afford to Treat lice. remember, according to the health department this is a nuisance not a health concern for hazard. again good luck and keep fighting the good fight I plan on attending this meeting as I have got some arguments for all of those points. 1 question I never had answered was where does the infected child's rights end and my child's rights begin. my children are old enough that this is not an issue for us any longer but I really feel for the parents that have to fight this battle.