POLICY AND PROCEDURES

1. POLICY AND PROCEDURES Pat Glass, R.N. District School Nurse Health Services Coordinator Jessamine County Schools

2. POLICY • Policy – definition from Webster’s “governing plan or principle” • The wording is usually “broad”, and often it is vague. • The Board of Education establishes “county-wide” policies. • These policies are governed by KRS, OAG, and/or KAR. • The BOE (Board of Ed.) has the right to take a policy a step further than the KRS, OAG,or KAR.

3. POLICY (Continued) • The policy manual established by the BOE has a codification system which has been established by KSBA (KY School Boards Assn.). • The code for Students (09) holds information regarding health services, which includes: child abuse emergency medical treatment student safety contagious diseases and parasites medication administration health requirements physical examinations immunizations hazing alcohol, drugs, and other controlled substances athletics

4. PROCEDURES • Procedures – are the means by which a policy is administered or carried out. • School systems can have “county-wide” procedures, or each school’s SBDM (Site Based Decision Making) Council has the right to establish procedures that only pertain to that school.

5. Policy vs. Procedure • Policy adoption or change requires Board of Education action. The BOE is required to have 2 readings on a new policy, or a policy change, and then they vote to approve or deny. (This process takes 3 separate meetings.) • A procedure does not require action on the part of the BOE.

6. BUT………………… • Even though procedures don’t require Board action, it is extremely important that procedures are: • Well documented • Communicated to all staff and parents • Training is consistent and regular • Need for change be “research-based” • Everyone is on board and following the same procedures!!!!!!!!!!!

7. OUTSIDE AGENCIES • The policies and procedures that have been established by the BOE govern all activities and staff that operate within the walls of the school system or on school property, including outside agencies. • Policies and procedures of an outside agency are not necessarily applicable within the school setting.

8. Responsibilities • It is the responsibility of the contracting agency and the school system (BOE) to communicate and establish the policies and procedures that will be followed. • This needs to be handled during the contract negotiations. • It is extremely important to establish the “chain of command”!!!!!!!!

9. CHAIN OF COMMAND • The Chain of Command in an outside agency and the Chain of Command in the school system are 2 different “animals”. • School System: • Building level – Principal • District School Nurse/Health Services Coordinator • Assistant Superintendent/Deputy Superintendent • Superintendent

10. REMEMBER! Many school systems are placing policies and procedures on the local web pages. Parents are computer savy. Make sure your “t’s” are crossed and the “i’s” are dotted. Supervision is your insurance that all are following the same policies and procedures.

11. AND………… Your policies and procedures are the bases that your health services program is operating from, and if alegal situation arises, you want that foundation to be as sound as possible! You don’t want to be in the middle of a legal case and trying to sort out the issues of whose policies and procedures you have been following, whether the outside agency or the local BOE.

12. IMPORTANT! • Extremely important that forms match policies and procedures!!!!!!

13. RESOURCES • Jessamine County Board of Education Policy Manual • KSBA Policy Guide