An amendment to the Cumberland County School Board’s head lice policy to include bed bugs was pushed back to October’s meeting so further adjustments can be made to accommodate for dealing with additional pests and vermin such as fleas.

The proposed amendmended policy shown to the board reads as follows:

(No students shall be denied an education solely by reason of pediculosis (head lice) or cimex lectularius (bed bugs), and his or her educational program shall be restricted only to the extent necessary to minimize the risk of transmitting the infestation and protect the privacy of the student.

It shall be the responsibility of the principal or school nurse to notify the parents/guardians in the event a student has head lice/bed bugs. A letter shall be sent home with a student to explain the condition, requirements for readmission, and deadlines for satisfactory completion of the treatment.

Prior to readmission, satisfactory evidence must be submitted to school personnel that the student has been treated for head lice/bed bugs. This evidence may include but not be limited to:

1. Proof of treatment with a pediculicide product (e.g. head lice shampoo) or as prescribed by a healthcare professional. Proof of extermination services for bed bugs.

2. Satisfactory examination by a school health official.

Treatment and prevention measures shall be developed by the director of school/designee in consultation with a school nurse and distributed to all classroom teachers. These procedures shall also be distributed to the parent/guardian of any student that has head lice/bed bugs.

Any subsequent incidents of head lice/bed bugs for a student during the school year shall require submission of satisfactory evidence of treatment for head lice/bed bugs and be found free of lice/bed bugs by a school health official.
A student shall be expected to have met all requirements for treatment and return to school no later than 2 days following exclusion for head lice/bed bugs. All days in excess of the allowable period shall be marked as unexcused absences and refer to the attendance supervisor at the proper time.)

However, this amendment was pushed back to October’s meeting so further amendments could be made.