Board discusses aligning head‑lice policy with Oregon guidance; questions on notifications and compliance

Eagle Point School District 9 staff presented a proposed update to board policy JHCCF/JHCCFAR to align the district with Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority guidance (2023) that head lice are not a school‑excludable disease under Oregon law. The presenter said current administrative rules in the district instructed sending students home for live head lice; the updated OSBA‑recommended policy would remove exclusion and align with state guidance.

Board members asked whether the district would notify entire classes or schools when a student has head lice. Administrators said current practice is to notify only the family of the child with lice and to provide guidance on treatment, not to exclude the student from school. One staff member referenced a 2017 statute they believe prohibits whole‑class notification and said they would confirm the legal limits.

Board members asked how often lice occurrences happen; staff said they did not have district‑wide data at the meeting but noted the policy review was prompted by observed inconsistencies between practice and the written AR. One board member asked whether the district handbook needs updating and whether Division 22 standards create reporting obligations that would be affected by keeping the old policy.

Staff concluded they would bring additional legal clarification and data to a future work session (June) rather than place the revised policy on the May 28 consent agenda. No policy change was adopted at the work session.