Health Services

The Health Services department staff includes 51 nurses working directly with students in the schools with 32 health aides supporting the nursing staff with clerical services and basic first aid.  The school nurses provide care for the majority of the health issues seen in our schools. They are a compassionate and passionate group working to keep your child healthy.

Health Services monitors physical exams and hearing and vision screenings for mandated grades. The department also approves transportation and homebound instruction for medical reasons. Additionally, we provide medical reviews and clearances for employees returning to work after illness.

Comprehensive health services are offered at eight of our schools: STEAM @ Dr. King Elementary , Dr. Weeks Elementary , Delaware, PSLA at Fowler, HW Smith, Syracuse STEM at Blodgett, Franklin Elementary, and Grant Middle School. For more information, please visit our School Based Health Centers Page.

Head Lice Procedures & Guidance for Parents

Students identified as having live head lice are not excluded or sent home early from school unless the student is unable to participate in school activities due to being uncomfortably itchy; they may go home at the end of the day, transported home as usual and are referred to their parent/guardian for treatment. The guidelines can be followed by the parent to treat their child for head lice.

You can find the guidelines on the "Forms & Documents" page of our website or below:
Head Lice Information for Parents
Informacíon sobre piojos para padres/tutores
 

Cold Weather Guidance

Please note: this is updated as of January 2025.

• Students should tell an adult if they are cold, feeling pain or numbness in their hands, feet, ears, or noses, or if they have wet clothing (especially boots or gloves) or if they see a color change in any part of their body.  In these instances, the student should see the school nurse to be warmed, given dry clothing, and evaluated for frostbite.
• Parents should be reminded of the importance of providing appropriate outerwear every day during extreme weather conditions. This applies to both younger and older students.
• Parents should avoid leaving a child completely unattended before pick up and should discuss with the child what to do in an emergency or bus delay if the parent has already left for work.  For instance, parents should arrange for a place for their children to go in the event the parent needs to leave a child before the scheduled bus arrival.
  
  For additional cold weather safety tips, please click here! 

Please note: this is updated guidance as of August 2024.

These SCSD guidelines pertain to respiratory illnesses including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Individuals should stay home and away from others, including people they live with who are not sick, if they have respiratory virus symptoms that are not better explained by another cause. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache.

Individuals can go back to work, school, and normal activities when, for 24 hours, both of the following are true:

1. Symptoms are getting better overall, and
2. They no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.

• When going back to normal activities, staff and students should take added precautions over the next 5 days, including wearing masks, physical distancing, and testing when they will be around other people.
• If individuals again develop a fever or start to feel worse, they should stay home and away from others and repeat the guidance above.
• If you have or your child has increased symptoms, please consult with your doctor.

Please note: If you are a SCSD staff member who is COVID positive:

1. You must send your positive test result in to Health Services (healthservices@scsd.us) and Michelle Stauber (mstauber@scsd.us).
2. You must enter sick days into Frontline and alert your supervisor of your absence.
3. You must fill out and send the self-attestation form to Michelle Stauber (mstauber@scsd.us) once you have returned to work. Please remember to sign the form. Self Attestation Form 8-6-24.pdf

Staff or Students Who are Contacts of COVID Positive Persons

• There is no longer quarantining for those exposed to COVID-19. However, it is recommended an individual wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5. All at-home tests are to be done at home and not in school or the workplace.

 

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Immunization requirements for school attendance

As a reminder, immunization requirements for students must be met for school attendance. A student may not be permitted to attend school without proof of required immunizations. There is a 14 day grace period following the 1st day of school to provide documentation of required immunizations. For those students who are transferring from out-of-state or from another country and can show a good faith effort to get the necessary evidence of immunization(s) there is a 30 day grace period.

Please click here for more information! 
 

Health Screenings

 Health Appraisals and screenings are required for new students and at mandated grade levels.

• Scoliosis screening for girls in grades 5 & 7 and boys in grades 9.
• Vision screening for distance, near vision acuity & color perception required within 6 months of admission to school; distance & near vision acuity in grades Pre K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and at any other time deemed necessary.
• Hearing screening to all students within six months of admission to the school and in grades Kindergarten, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11, and at any other time deemed necessary. 
• Physical exams for all new students to the district and in grades Pre-K or K, 1,3,5,7,9 and 11.
• All student athletes and students needing working papers are required to have a physical preferably performed by their own healthcare provider and completed within one year of the beginning of the athletic season or employment.

Mandated vision and scoliosis screenings, if not completed on the physical exam provided by your child’s medical provider will be done for required grades by the school nurse. Mandated hearing screenings, if not completed on the physical exam will be done for required grades by the audiology department.
 

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Important Note to Families: Religious exemption from immunizations for religious reasons

On June 13, 2019, the New York State Legislature passed an amendment to public health law section 2164, eliminating the exemption from immunizations due to religious beliefs for school attendance.  The new law is effective immediately. All families of previously exempt students will receive a letter with more details on what is now required.