I have run into this situation frequently this year. One parent in particular is troublesome about this. When I call home for a feverish or sick child or if the child has lice, the parent just says "I can't pick them up. I don't have a car". She was quite nasty about it when this last happened. The child/children end up staying in the front office or in my clinic all day, and we end up sending home on the bus despite the fact that it's against school policy to do so. This has happened several times this year with this parent. The principal doesn't want to make any waves with parents, so she goes along with it. I think in this case, Mom knows we don't do anything about it so it's of no consequence to her.
What do you do at your school? I'm getting tired of being a free babysitter....
I see this often (especially LICE kiddos). I had one yesterday with a child who had severe pain with sx UTI (that she said she's been telling parent's about for 3 days). Nobody can come pick her up for X,Y,Z reason. I let the poor girl rest in my office until the end of the day, with instructions to the parent to get her to MD ASAP after school. If she is in school today with same sx and no MD visit, I'm thinking I might have to that a harder approach. Even though she isn't 'contagious'.. UTIs are PAINFUL and it's unfair to expect this child to suffer. I did have her drink lots of water all afternoon and instructed her to drink more daily, but I'm not sure what else I can do for her. Any ideas?
I see this often (especially LICE kiddos). I had one yesterday with a child who had severe pain with sx UTI (that she said she's been telling parent's about for 3 days). Nobody can come pick her up for X,Y,Z reason. I let the poor girl rest in my office until the end of the day, with instructions to the parent to get her to MD ASAP after school. If she is in school today with same sx and no MD visit, I'm thinking I might have to that a harder approach. Even though she isn't 'contagious'.. UTIs are PAINFUL and it's unfair to expect this child to suffer. I did have her drink lots of water all afternoon and instructed her to drink more daily, but I'm not sure what else I can do for her. Any ideas?
I would call CPS at that point. An untreated UTI can get serious. That is if you believe the child of course.
Am curious. How does the day get counted when kiddo has to sit in the office bc Mom doesn't come for a pickup?
I'd consider it an in-house ABSENCE. Absences will add up then, don't they?
Students have to have a certain amount of time in class to get credit. It doesn't matter if it's excused or unexcused once they reach that threshold they don't get credit unless they appeal. I know some parents think that if they're kids are in school then it counts, but it doesn't unless they're in class.
So, basically, at least for my school, you're right. If you're in school, but not in class, it's still an absence and you still get dinged.
Perhaps the best time to approach this parent is when the child is not sick. An administrator should call the parent and say "The last couple times that Suzie Q has been sick you haven't been able to pick her up. What can we do to make sure this doesn't happen again next time? If SQ is sick, she needs to be at home and we won't be able to send her on the bus again with children that could catch whatever she might have"
If the suggestion comes at a time when there is no urgency to pick up the child it may be better received.
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Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Oh. I don't do that. I'm a blurter.