Carmichaels OKs first reading on 13 policy updates
CARMICHAELS – The Carmichaels Area School Board approved the first reading on updates to more than a dozen district policies during its Thursday night meeting.
The 13 policies varied widely from extracurricular activities, hazing and drug use to concussion management, head lice procedures and having service animals in school.
Superintendent John Menhart said the policies had not been updated in several years, and not since he’s been in his position.
Out of the 13, the head lice policy is the only one that is a brand new policy, he said.
“We’ve had a procedure for handling head lice, but we’ve never had an actual policy for it,” he said.
If approved at a second reading, the head lice policy would permit the school nurse to send students home if live lice are found in their hair. The policy also demands the parents or guardians verify treatment of the lice within 24 hours. If the parents can’t afford treatment, the students will be referred to the Department of Health.
“The board is committed to maximizing students’ academic performance and physical well-being in a healthy and safe environment,” the policy sates. “The board recognizes that head lice infestations are not a sign of uncleanliness and are not responsible for the spread of any disease.”
Other policies that will be updated include meetings, locker searches, student recruitment, emergency preparedness, automated external defibrillator use, maintaining professional adult/student boundaries, and conflicts of interest. The policies already in place can be viewed on the district’s website, www.carmarea.org.