A student identified as being infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) will be allowed to attend school in an unrestricted setting unless conditions arise in the school that place the infected student at risk of special health hazards, or unless the student is too ill to attend.
No prescreening or testing for the purpose of detecting HIV infection will be conducted by the school district, nor will admission, enrollment or continued attendance of any student be conditioned on providing proof that the student is free from HIV infection.
Information regarding a student’s HIV status will be treated as confidential. This information will be released only with parental or eligible student’s consent to staff or persons who have to know as determined by the student, his or her parent or guardian, the student’s physician and school officials working in concert. All district personnel who receive confidential medical information regarding a student’s HIV status will maintain strict confidentiality of the data. Any staff member who violates this policy is subject to disciplinary sanctions and civil liability.
Any school person whose job has the potential of requiring that body fluids be handled shall receive instruction in the proper handling, treatment and disposal of bodily fluids or wastes. Instruction shall be based on Universal Precautions recognized by medical professionals.
In-service education of staff shall be provided annually to ensure current, accurate information about human immunodeficiency virus.
The superintendent shall designate a spokesperson for the district who shall act as liaison to the community regarding the district’s policies on AIDS and human immunodeficiency virus.
In the event a student is denied admission to or continuance in an educational program in violation of this policy, or in the event a conflict arises over release of confidential medical information governed by this policy, the student, parent or guardian may appeal the decision to the board and if still aggrieved, to the State Board of Education.
- First Adoption:
- 1986-12-18
- Revision Adoption:
- July 18, 1990/ May 21, 2000
- Reviewed Dates:
- July 17, 2016/ November 14, 2021