Colebrook Consolidated School
Food Allergies Policy
Students with Food Allergy Care Needs The Colebrook Board of Education believes that all students, through necessary accommodations where required, shall have the opportunity to participate fully in all
school programs and activities. The Board recognizes the increasing prevalence of potentially life-threatening food allergies among children. While the primary responsibility for managing food allergies lies with the
students/parents, the school district will assist them with their responsibilities in the school setting. Effective management of food allergies in the school setting includes implementing strategies for avoidance of
offending foods by allergic children and emergency planning to ensure prompt identification and treatment of allergic reactions that may occur. The Board supports the education of school personnel, students, and parents
regarding food allergy management to maintain a safe school environment for allergic children. (cf. 5141 – Student Health Services) (cf. 5141.21 – Administering Medication)
(cf. 5141.23 – Students with Special Health Care Needs) (cf. 5141.3 – Health Assessments) (cf. 5145.4 – Nondiscrimination) Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-15b Access of parent or guardian to student's records
10-154a Professional communications between teacher or nurse and student 10-207 Duties of medical advisors 10-212a Administration of medications in schools
10-212a(d) Administration of medications in schools by a paraprofessional 10-220i Transportation of students carrying cartridge injectors 52-557b Good Samaritan Law. Immunity from liability for emergency
medical assistance, first aid, or medication by injection PA 05-104 An Act Concerning Food Allergies and the Prevention of Life-Threatening Incidents in Schools
PA 05-144 and 05-272 An Act Concerning the Emergency Use of Cartridge Injectors
The Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies section 10-212a through 10-212a-7
Students Students with Food Allergy Care Needs Legal Reference: Federal Legislation
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 § 504; 34 C.F.R. § 104 et seq.) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq
.; 29 C.F.R. § 1630 et seq. The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1976 (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq .); 34 C.F.R.
§ 300 et seq. FCS Instruction 783-2, Revision 2, Meal substitution for medical or other special dietary reasons
Policy adopted: May 6, 2009
Students with Food Allergy Care Needs Accommodating Students with Special Dietary Needs (Food Allergy Management) The goal of the following administrative regulations is to assist an identified allergic student* in avoiding
exposure to allergens. It is recognized, however, that the school district cannot guarantee the elimination of allergens from the school environment. 1. Recognizing that peanuts, peanut products, tree nuts and tree nut
products can be associated with the most severe types of allergic reactions, every reasonable effort will be made so they shall not knowingly be present on school property. Therefore, Colebrook Consolidated School will be
designated as a "Peanut-Free School". 3. School
personnel will not attempt to determine whether foods brought to school are safe for an allergic student to consume. 4. School personnel will implement in collaboration with the school nurse, parent/guardian, and
student a written plan for the avoidance of offending foods by an identified allergic student. Where appropriate (given the age and maturity of the student), school personnel (nurse, administrator) will share this plan with
teachers and other staff members who have responsibility for supervising the student, including substitutes. (Please refer to the School Nurse's role in management and emergency planning.) Recognizing the need
for identified students to avoid specific allergens, the elements of a plan may include, but are not limited to, the following provisions, as may be warranted by the needs of the individually identified allergic student*: 3. To provide for washing classroom desktops as necessary to remove identified allergens.
4. To provide for all food fed to classroom/building pets to be allergen free. 5. To provide that staff and students who have been in contact with an allergen wash thoroughly before resuming contact with an
allergic student. 6. To provide, where feasible, on field trips, if an allergic student will eat lunch/snacks other than those brought from home, for the menu to be reviewed by the parent/guardian prior to
the trip to determine whether the child may eat the food. If the parent/guardian is unable to make the determination, or the menu is unavailable, the parent/guardian will send safe food on the trip with the
student. Epinephrine, provided by the parent/guardian, shall accompany the allergic student on field trips and be readily available if required by the severity of the student's allergy. A communication
system for calling EMS shall be available at all times on field trips. 7. To provide for all classroom lessons that may use food for instructional purposes to critically evaluate the essential need for the
food product to meet the objective(s) of the curriculum and make the best use of instructional time. 8. To provide for epinephrine to be available as required by the severity of the student's allergy. *An "identified allergic student" is one for whom the school nurse has a written plan for allergy avoidance and a written emergency medical play to be followed in the event an allergic student ingests or believes
he/she has ingested an offending food, or has touched an offending food (if that is part of his/her allergy). The school nurse will require documentation of the food allergy by the student's health provider as specified in
the "School Nurse's Role in Management and Emergency Planning." School Nurse's Role in Management and Emergency Planning: 1. A written emergency medical plan will be established by the nurse in conjunction
with the parent/guardian, student, the student's health care provider who has documented the food allergy, and school personnel to be followed in the event that an allergic student touches, ingests, or believes he/she has ingested,
an offending food. The school nurse shall instruct appropriate school personnel regarding the emergency plan. The plan will be reviewed annually and revised as needed. 2. Require that the parent/guardian
obtain and provide to the school medications ordered by the student's health care provider to treat an allergic reaction. When medication is ordered in school for a student, the parent/guardian shall provide a supply for use
in school. Students, with the written permission of the parent/guardian and health care provider and a nursing assessment to self-administer, may be allowed to carry their epinephrine with them on their person at all times. 3. Train qualified teachers and paraprofessionals to administer the student's medication in the absence of the nurse, including on field trips. The nurse will instruct the student in self-administration of
medication, when appropriate. 4. Epinephrine will be immediately available in the school building to be administered according to the emergency medication protocol prescribed by the School Medical Advisor in the event
that the student's own epinephrine prescription is unavailable. The nurse shall be immediately available to administer epinephrine when indicated. Alternatively, in the absence of the nurse, a qualified principal or
teacher shall be immediately available or 9-1-1 shall be called. 5. Identify children with food allergies. The nurse shall alert the appropriate teachers (including specialists and resource staff),
paraprofessionals, and cafeteria personnel to students at risk for a severe allergic reaction. In addition, the school nurse shall provide annual instruction for all school personnel regarding recognition, prevention, and
treatment of food allergies as referenced in the above background information. Teachers of food allergic children shall receive student-specific instruction to give epinephrine to those students when required by the student's
written emergency medical plan. The school nurse may also provide supervision and instruction to an identified school paraprofessional to administer medication, including, but not limited to, medication administered with a
cartridge injector, to a specific student with a medically diagnosed allergic condition that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death. 6. Work with the parent/guardian,
student, and school personnel to develop a written plan for avoidance of offending foods by the allergic student. Children with food allergies shall be instructed by their parents and by the school nurse regarding the food(s)
to avoid and should not share or trade lunch or snacks. The teacher or school nurse shall instruct classes that have children with food allergies that foods must not be traded or shared. 7. The school nurse will
not attempt to determine whether foods brought to school are safe for an allergic child to consume. Regulation approved: May 6, 2009
COLEBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Colebrook, Connecticut
Students - Regulation
2. Recognizing the need for reliable communications from all student locations to the school office, the school shall have a facility specific communication
system, such as an intercom, telephone or walkie-talkie, available to summon help to any location in an emergency during the school day. If an emergency occurs outside the school day or at a site where appropriate emergency
assistance is not available, emergency medical services shall be utilized by calling 9-1-1 if a responsible teacher or administrator determines such emergency intervention to be reasonably necessary.
1.
To provide parents/guardians, staff, and students with detailed information regarding the known ingredients of the school lunch upon request.
2. To provide, if necessary, a safe table in the cafeteria, which is
thoroughly washed prior to the first lunch shift and in between lunch shifts.
COLEBROOK SCHOOL DISTRICT
Colebrook, Connecticut
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