District personnel with a communicable disease that is reportable will be allowed to perform their customary employment duties provided they are able to perform the tasks assigned to them and as long as their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to the students or other employees. The term “reportable communicable disease” will mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person-to-person or animal-to-person or as defined by the State Department of Health or law.
The health risk to immunodepressed employees is determined by their personal physician. The health risk to others in the school district environment from the presence of an employee with a reportable communicable disease is determined on a case-by-case basis by public health officials.
Since there may be greater risk of transmission of a reportable communicable disease for some people with certain conditions than for other people infected with the same disease the effect upon the education program, the effect upon the person, and other factors deemed relevant by public health officials or the superintendent will be considered in assessing an employee’s continued presence and performance of their customary employment duties. The superintendent [or designee] may require medical evidence that district personnel with reportable communicable diseases are able to perform their assigned duties.
District personnel will notify the superintendent [or designee] or school nurse when they learn they have a reportable communicable disease. It is the responsibility of the superintendent [or designee] when they have knowledge that a reportable communicable disease is present to notify the State Department of Health. Rumor and hearsay will be insufficient evidence for the superintendent [or designee] to act.
Health data of an employee is confidential and will not be disseminated. Employee medical records are kept in a file separate from their personnel file.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent [or designee] in conjunction with the school nurse to develop administrative regulations stating the procedures for dealing with district personnel with reportable communicable diseases.
Adopted: 6/89
Reviewed: 1/11; 12/11; 4/13; 3/17; 4/20; 4/23
Revised: 9/14
Related Policy: 504.2; 504.2-R
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): 29 USC §§ 794, 1910; 42 USC §§ 12101 et seq; 45 CFR Pt 84.3; 139A; 141A; 641 IAC .1, .2, .7
IASB Reference; 403.03