[Jolie]

What is the accepted standard of care for notifying parents of head lice infestation in the elementary school setting?

Our school recently had an outbreak of head lice (not just an isolated case), and the principal refused to notify parents.

Any references you can recommend?

Thanks!

[mommy2boys]

I don't know what the "normal" way of notifing parents of a lice outbreak, but at my son's school they sent out a letter to the parents telling them that there was a "outbreak". My son is in kindergarden and his teacher sent out a letter to all the parents informing them that they had a lice outbreak and they would be checking all the students in that class. Thank goodness he was clean, but I've been checking him like mad at home. I hear the word lice and I start to itch.

Erin

[jen42]

Our rule of thumb is that if 3 kids in the same class come down with lice, we notify the parents. I would be furious if I were a parent who found out there was a lice outbreak and I wasn't told. Why doesn't the principal want you to send out anything?

[MomNRN]

I sent out a notice to all students in a class if there was someone with lice. We didn't identify who the student was just that there was an active case and to check your children at home. Most parents were grateful.

[Jolie]

Originally Posted by jen42

Our rule of thumb is that if 3 kids in the same class come down with lice, we notify the parents. I would be furious if I were a parent who found out there was a lice outbreak and I wasn't told. Why doesn't the principal want you to send out anything?

There were 3 kids all in different classes. This is an affluent area, and it is my opinion that the principal doesn't want any information to get out that might reflect badly on "her" building. I don't think much of this woman, as she seems to desire an inordinate amount of control over her students and employees alike. It doesn't help any that the nurse is present in the building only 1/2 day per week. Her role seems to be paper-work only. (I'm not the nurse, just a mom). Enough parents learned of the lice by word of mouth that pressure was put on the principal to issue a letter to parents, several days after the situation became known to the school.

Thanks for your input!