ECS Infectious Illness Policy 2024/2025

In addition to the guidelines laid out in the lower, middle, and high school parent student handbooks, the below guidelines will be put into effect to provide the safest environment possible for students and staff at ECS. Our goal is to mitigate the risk of spreading infectious illness to the extent possible, knowing that no single action or set of actions can completely eliminate the risk of the spread of infectious illness.

Parents are the biggest component in keeping our students healthy by vigilantly screening them at home before sending them to school, and not sending their students to school with ANY signs of illness. Parents should monitor their student at home for any signs of illness, including monitoring their temperature at home and SHOULD NOT send their students to school if they are not feeling well. It can sometimes be hard to discern the difference between just “tired” and the beginning of an illness when symptoms are vague. If your child complains of vague symptoms in the late afternoon or evening, and they are NOT symptom-free in the morning, this is a good indicator of oncoming illness, and a day of rest at home should be STRONGLY considered. Please do not send students to school with the hopes that “they will get better as the day goes on” or “call me after lunch if you still don’t feel well.” It is in these initial stages of viral illness that children are the most infectious.

HIGH-RISK Symptoms associated with infectious diseases in children Requiring Absence and/or Pickup if at School:

1. Elevated temperature with any other symptoms and/or unable to function in the classroom

2. Viral illness symptoms (cough, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache)

– Chronic allergy and asthma symptoms are NOT acute respiratory illnesses and a cough in this population would need to be a change from their baseline

3. Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain)

4. Other Conditions requiring absence:

a. The first 24 hours of various antibiotic treatments (i.e. strep throat, pink eye, etc.)

b. Undiagnosed, new, and/or untreated rash or skin condition

c. Doctor’s note requiring an individualized plan of care to stay home.

Return to School Policy For Those with Symptoms of Illness

● Students with FEVER need to be free of fever for 24hrs WITHOUT the use of of fever-reducing medication (even if given for pain control)

● Students with nausea/vomiting/diarrhea must remain home until they are free of symptoms for 24hrs.

● Students who are absent due to viral illness or respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, runny nose, congestion, headache, body aches, fatigue) should not return for a minimum of 24 hours and SYMPTOM FREE

Academic School Support Regarding Illness

1. ECS will continue to support students with acute or chronic health conditions. Short-term absences will be handled on a case-by-case basis with the student in touch with their corresponding division administrator. Long-term absences will be evaluated if criteria are appropriate for medical leave or other potential medical accommodations.