Students should not take medication during school hours or during school-related activities unless it is necessary for a student’s health and well-being.  When a student’s licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child and otherwise follow the District’s procedures on dispensing medication.

No School District employee shall administer to any student, or supervise a student’s self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed “School Medication Authorization Form” is submitted by the student’s parent/guardian.  No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in this policy and its implementing procedures.

A student may possess an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) and/or medication prescribed for asthma for immediate use at the student’s discretion, provided the student’s parent/guardian has completed and signed a “School Medication Authorization Form.”  The School District shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication or epinephrine auto-injector or the storage of any medication by school personnel.  A student’s parent/guardian must indemnify and hold harmless the School District and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or medication, or the storage of any medication by school personnel.

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.

The Building Principal shall include this policy in the Student Handbook and shall provide a copy to the parents/guardians of students.

1. School personnel will not administer medication at school if arrangements can be made so that the student can receive the medication at home.
2. Inhalers or Epi-Pens may not be carried by the student in school unless the physician indicates in writing on the medication request form that it is medically necessary that the inhaler or Epi-Pen be carried by the student at all times.  (The student will be issued a permanent pass for the school year at the senior high level).
3. All medications administered to students during school hours must be transported to and from school by a parent or another adult acting on the parent’s behalf.
4. All requests to administer medication to students must be in writing on the designated “Medication Request Form” and signed by the parent or legal guardian and the physician.  Medication will not be administered unless a request form is properly completed and the medication is labeled properly.
5. All medications, prescribed by the physician, must be in the original pharmacy container.  The container (prescription and non-prescription) must be labeled with the student and physician’s name, pharmacy, and the name, dosage, and directions of the medication. Any change in the dosage of the medication and/or the directions for use will require a corrected pharmacy label indicating the changes and a signed note from the physician.
6. If a student is taking a long-term medication (over 30 days), a new Medication Request Form is required at the start of each school year.  The pharmacist must re-label the bottle according to the physician’s new orders.
7. The parent will be notified if the student consistently forgets to take the medication at the specified time.  The student will be called to the office as a reminder to take the medication if forgotten.  It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure the student knows when the medication is due.
8. The administration of any medication containing a narcotic is discouraged during school hours.  If a student requires medication of this type for pain, it is recommended that he/she remain at home until a milder form of medication is indicated.  It is highly recommended that parents do not administer narcotics before school due to safety issues at school.
9. Cough drops are permitted at the elementary and intermediate levels (PreK-6) with a Medication Request Form signed by the physician and parent.  The student must stay in the health room/office while the cough drop is administered.  However, cough drops are discouraged at this level due to risk of choking.
10. School personnel will destroy any medication that is not removed from the school at the end of the year.

Cross Reference: CUSD10 Board Policy 7:270.