Strategic Plan for dealing with Lice issue

1. Information/Communication: Utilize school list serves, website, and local papers (Monitor) to get the word out regarding the issue, the clinic and where to obtain additional information. Additionally, information will be posted in all of the normal posting places around town (Library, Post Office, Colonial Village, Schools, and the Cracker Barrel) and will also be sent to the Town of Hopkinton to be placed on the town website.

2. Compliance: Schedule day this week (Thursday)—Clinic at Maple Street school to provide head checks for Hopkinton residents. Encourage parents to participate in the process. Have resources available (information). Children found to have lice or nits will be re-examined on the first day of school. Parents will be informed as the availability of treatment options in the local area.

3. Education: Educate parents during the clinic on how to check for lice. Information will be provided during the clinic and available on the District Website for parents. Send information home the first day with all students indicating the need for parents to check heads closely for the first two weeks of school. Parents will be asked to check their children’s hair periodically throughout the year, especially if a child is complaining of an itchy scalp or is seen frequently scratching their head. All cases of head lice should be reported to the school nurse.

4. Mitigation; Notice to all teachers during the Superintendent’s opening comments concerning the issue and steps being taken and should be taken to mitigate the issue in the schools (not sharing pillows, dress up clothes, sitting too close to one another, etc.) Emails to parents will also provide information “risky behaviors” (ie not sharing pillows, hats, etc..). Principals will follow-up with teachers during their opening faculty meetings on Monday as well. Students will be reminded on the first day of school and information will be sent home to parents about what the school is doing to reduce the risk of lice in the classroom.

5. Moving forward: The process we will be following should be documented as an administrative procedure:

All nurses will utilize the same procedure

Upon notification or discovery, a letter will be sent home to the student’s entire class.

Student will be sent home for treatment that day and will be rechecked prior to his/her return to school.

If there are multiple cases in various grade levels, notice will be sent home to all parents in that building and information will be put on the district website.