Health or Nursing Services
Mission:
The mission of the LUESD Health Services Department is to provide holistic health related services to all students in order to improve student attendance, minimize health related barriers to learning, and to provide the link between health and education through collaboration with students, staff, families, and the community.
The Health Services Team is comprised of 2 School Nurses (RNs) and 8 Site Nurses (LVNs)
Stephanie Martin, RN, BSN, PHN multiple sites and district duties 559-924-6803 smartin@myluesd.net | Jeanette Clodfelter, RN, BSN, PHN multiple sites 559-924-6887 jclodfelter@myluesd.net |
Alma Avina, LVN Cinnamon Elementary aavina@myluesd.net | Madison Novoa, LVN Meadow Lane Elementary mnovoa@myluesd.net |
Claudia Lopez, LVN Engvall Elementary clopez1@myluesd.net | Melissa Perez, LVN University Charter School mperez@myluesd.net |
Erica Loza, LVN Lemoore Elementary eloza@myluesd.net | Maria Serna, LVN Liberty Middle School mserna@myluesd.net |
Kim Moench, LVN kmoench@myluesd.net | Kathy Garcia, LVN Freedom Elementary kmgarcia@myluesd.net |
Information
Please review the Health Section in your Parent/Student Handbook for most district, health-related protocols.
Sick Day Protocol:
Use this sign/symptom guidance table linked ONLY if:
The child can participate meaningfully in school or school activities; AND
The school can provide appropriate care without compromising the health and safety of other children.
If these above criteria are not met, the child should stay home or be sent home by the school.
When a student is identified at school with one of the recommended signs/symptoms in the chart below which requires the student to go home:
Effort will be made by the school to first inform the student’s primary contacts of the need to be picked up due to the identified illness. If the primary contacts are not responding, the school will contact any designated contacts that have been provided.
The student will need to be picked up within 2 hours of this illness notification. If the parent/guardian has not picked up the student within 2 hours or communicated an alternative plan with the school that can be accommodated then Lemoore Police Department will be involved.
For the safety of the student, a student with an identified illness on this list to be sent home, will not be allowed to walk home or take the bus home.
Action Plans:
Athletics Emergency Action Plan which includes Heat Illness, Head Injury, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Allergic Reaction Action Plan (stock epinephrine use plan)
Cardiac Action Plan for students with known cardiac history
Opioid Overdose Action Plan (stock naloxone use plan)
Respiratory Distress Action Plan (stock albuterol use plan)
Concussions:
Students can sustain a concussion through various injuries or accidents. It doesn't always occur during an athletic event. At LUESD, all coaches will be trained on concussions and all students and student parents participating in the athletic program will read and sign this form as part of the athletic program packet per CA Education Code 49475.
All students riding a bicycyle, scooter, skateboard, or other similar device to school must abide by the CA State helmet law. Here is some helpful information regarding bicycle helmet use and safety.
Diabetes Information, Type 1:
LUESD provides this information on type 1 diabetes to parents/guardians of incoming elementary students during the enrollment process as required by CA Education Code 49452.6.
Diabetes Information, Type 2:
LUESD provides this information on type 2 diabetes to parents/guardians of incoming 7th graders during the enrollment process as required by CA Education Code 49452.7.
Food Allergy Policy:
If your child has a food allergy, please complete the following form in English or Spanish. If your child requires certain foods to be avoided, it is required that the Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations be completed by a healthcare provider and turned in to the school site.
If your child only needs a liquid millk substitution, the parent/guardian may complete this form and turn it in to the school site.
Health Physical:
The health physical that used to be a requirement for Kinder/1st grade is no longer a State requirement.
Heat Information:
When our temperatures are extremely high, it is important to encourage your child to drink lots of water, have access to air conditioning, rest in the shade when possible, wear loose, lightweight clothing, and limit direct sun as much as possible. It may also be necessary to limit outdoor activity during extreme temperatures.
LUESD receives communication from our local health department and receives guidance from CDPH during extreme heat conditions.
Immunizations:
Here are the current school aged immunization requirements for admission to CA schools. To receive a medical exemption for immunizations, please follow these instructions to request a medical exemption. The CA Dept of Public Health Immunization Branch has more information on their website. If you have questions, call your school site LVN.
By law, schools are required to collect vaccines information, monitor immunizations, and enforce vaccine requirements for school. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) annually audits school districts immunization rates and records.
HPV:
Additionally, the California Health and Safety Code was modified with the recent passing of AB 659 which requires school districts to provide information on the HPV vaccination. This bill recommends that students are fully immunized against human papillomavirus (HPV) before admission or advancement to the eighth-grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school.
CDC link to information about cancers linked to HPV. Given that 10% of 13 year olds are infected with HPV, many advisory committees recommend that children ages 11–12 years should get two doses of HPV vaccine, given 6 to 12 months apart. HPV vaccines can be given starting at age 9 years. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
Lice Policy:
LUESD is following the recommendation of the CDC, CDPH, National Association of School Nurses(NASN) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in regard to head lice which says in summary:
Head lice can be a nuisance but they have not been shown to spread disease
Students diagnosed with live head lice do not need to be sent home from school and no nit policies should be discontinued
The burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice
Head lice screening programs in schools have not been proven to have a significant effect over time on the incidence of head lice in the school setting, are not cost-effective, and may stigmatize children suspected of having head lice. Educational programs for families may be helpful in the management of head lice in the school setting.
No healthy child or adolescent should be excluded from school or allowed to miss school time because of head lice or nits. Medical providers should educate school communities that no-nit policies for return to school should be abandoned, because such policies would have negative consequences for children’s or adolescents’ academic progress, may violate their civil rights, and stigmatize head lice as a public health hazard.
LUESD's Policy: If a student is found with live lice, they shall be allowed to stay in school until the end of the school day. The parent will be given information about the treatment of head lice and informed that the student will be checked upon return to school the next day and allowed to remain in school if no live lice are detected. The full LUESD Lice Policy is linked here.
References:
CDPH Guidance on Head Lice Prevention and Control for K-12 Schools
AAP Head Lice Pediatrics (2022) 150 (4): e2022059282. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-059282
Medi-Cal Coverage and Providers:
Here is a list of Kings County Medi-Cal primary care, dental, ophthamologist, and optometry providers.
There are many resources to assist families in enrolling or renewing for Medi-Cal:
Catholic Charities Medi-Cal Outreach assists Kings County families understand and navigate the application process for Medi-Cal. Contact Alicia Valencia at aavelencia@ccdof.org or 559-237-0851 for more information.
Our local health department's CHDP program or CCS services.
Medication at School:
If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication to be taken at school, please read the handbook policy and call your school site LVN as there are requirements to follow. Here is the Medication Administration Form that will need to be completed by your child's medical provider.
Oral Health:
Smile, California is a great resource to help families learn about their dental coverage through Medi-Cal.
LUESD encourage all Kinder parents to complete this oral health form (which is in English and Spanish) and turn it in to their school site.
The following resources may help you find a dentist and complete the Oral Health Assessment Form for your child:
1. Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal’s toll-free number or Web site can help you to find a dentist who takes Denti-Cal: 1-800-322-6384; http://www.denti-cal.ca.gov. For help enrolling your child in Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal, contact your local social service agency.
2. Healthy Families’ toll-free number or Web site can help you to find a dentist who takes Healthy Families insurance or to find out if your child can enroll in the program: 1-800- 880-5305 or http://www.benefitscal.com/.
3. For additional resources that may be helpful, contact your local public health department toll free at 1 (877) 410-8813.
Pregnant, Married, or Parenting Students:
Puberty:
Pupils in 5th grade will have the opportunity to participate in a growth and development class taught by the school nurses. LUESD will send a Parent Square Notification at least 14 days before the instruction is provided. You can opt your child out of this presentation by calling your child's school site and telling the site nurse.
The following are the boys and girls puberty lessons and a link to the video that is shown during the presentation:
Boys Growth & Development Presentation and Video
Girls Growth & Development Presentation and Video
Sex Ed:
The components of the California Healthy Youth Act, also known as sex ed or comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, are required to be taught once in middle school and once in high school. If you do not want your middle schooler to participate in this comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, you may exclude your student from this education by providing a written request to the office at your child’s school site. The required content of this education is outlined in CA Education Codes 51930-51939. LUESD provides this requirement over 3 class periods during 7th grade taught by our credentialed school nurses. LUESD will send a Parent Square Notification at least 14 days before the instruction is provided.
The following are the 3 lessons taught to fulfill the requirements of sex ed (please note that there are anatomical pictures of human bodies in these slide decks and the reproducing, sharing, posting, or publishing of these slide decks are strictly prohibited):
If you have any questions about this requirement, please call the credentialed school nurses.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest:
Sudden Cadiac Arrest (SCA) is caused by a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system that abruptly halts the heartbeat. These malfunctions are most often caused by an arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat, or a structural problem. A variety of heart conditions can be congenital (present at birth) or can grow over time. Some conditions are hereditary, which is why knowing your extended family’s heart history is an important inclusion in your child’s medical record. At LUESD, all coaches will be trained on SCA and all students and student parents participating in the athletic program will read and sign this form as part of the athletic program packet per CA Education Code 33479.
Toileting or Diapering Assistance:
If your child needs toileting or diapering assistance, this Toileting and Diapering Procedures and Training document shows the procedure and training resources provided to staff.
If your child's toileting/diapering assistance is not part of an IEP support, this Toileting and Diapering Parent/Guardian Consent will need to be completed in order for school staff to routinely provide assistance.