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    We recognize that hearing the word "lice" can make even the bravest of humans a little nervous!  A diagnosis of lice has nothing to do with a person's hygiene or home life.  Lice happens and it's going to be OK!  We're here to help!  The district has recently updated their Lice Policy.  Please see below:

    UPDATED AND REVISED STANDING ORDER FOR LICE (Pediculosis) in the WCSD 2024-25 Standing Orders

    Head lice are most commonly found in children 3-12 years of age. Head lice do not pose a health hazard, transmit disease, nor serve as a sign of poor hygiene, child abuse or neglect. Nits are not equivalent to head lice, since nits cannot be transmitted from person to person.  Head lice, on the other hand, are transmitted as a result of direct head-to-head contact. Transmission of head lice in the classroom is uncommon and lice are rarely present in more than 5% of students.

     

    ∙ Students with head lice will NOT be excluded from school when lice are identified. Parent/Guardian should be notified, instructed in treatment of head lice and the student can be dismissed at the end of the school day as per usual.  The parent/guardian will be notified that the child must be treated with an appropriate lice treatment (over the counter treatment is sufficient, or prescription) prior to returning to school the next day.

    ∙ Notification of the head lice infestation will be provided only to the parent/guardian of the infested child/children.

    ∙ Parent/Guardian may be referred to the CDC website for treatment guidance https://www.cdc.gov/lice/treatment/index.html

    ∙ Students will be re-examined by the school RN upon returning to school, which can be as early as 1 day after treatment.  The school RN will verify with the parent/guardian 1) that the child has been treated, and 2) will report back to the parent if live lice are still identified upon re-examination.

    ∙ Students will be re-examined in 10 calendar days (or closest school day if day 10 day falls on weekend or holiday) by the school RN for evidence of head lice.  If live lice still exist, the parent/guardian should discuss retreatment options with the child’s healthcare Provider. 

    ∙ Students found to have head lice on re-examination on day 10 will have the parent notified that live lice still exist and that the parent/guardian should discuss retreatment options with the child’s healthcare Provider.

    ∙ No school-wide surveillance will be conducted for nits/live lice. 

    ∙ Student with nits and/or evidence of live head lice will not be excluded from school.

    Signed Electronically:  W. James Soha, MD:  MEDICAL DIRECTOR     Date: 10/23/24



    Below are some other links that may be helpful.

    https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/index.html

    https://www.schoolhealthny.com/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=216&ViewID=7b97f7ed-8e5e-4120-848f-a8b4987d588f&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=182&PageID=125