Assistance with Medication

(E.C. sections 49423 and 49480)

At the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians of the options available to students who need to take prescribed medication during the school day and the rights and

responsibilities of parents/guardians regarding those options. (Education Code 49480)

In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall inform the parents/guardians of any student on a continuing

medication regimen for a non-episodic condition of the following: (Education Code 49480)

  1. The parent/guardian is required to inform the school nurse or other designated employee of the medication

being taken, the current dosage, and the name of the supervising physician.

  1. With the parent/guardian’s consent, the school nurse or other designated employee may communicate with

the student’s physician regarding the medication and its effects and may counsel school personnel regarding

the possible effects of the medication on the student’s physical, intellectual, and social behavior, as well as

possible behavioral signs and symptoms of adverse side effects, omission, or overdose.

At least once per school year, the Superintendent or designee shall distribute to all employees a notice requesting volunteers to be trained to administer epinephrine auto-injectors and/or stock albuterol inhalers for emergency aid to individuals exhibiting signs of anaphylaxis reaction or respiratory distress. Such notice shall also describe the training that the volunteers will receive. (Education Code 49414, 49414.7)

Confidential Medical Services Without Parental Consent

(E.C. section 46010.1)

According to the law, school authorities may excuse any student in grades 7 through 12 from school for the purpose of obtaining confidential medical services without the consent of the pupil’s parents.

Control of Communicable Disease

(E.C. section 49403)

This district cooperates with the local health office in the control and prevention of communicable disease in school-age children. If you consent in writing, the district may permit any person licensed as a physician and surgeon, or any person licensed as a registered nurse to administer an immunizing agent to your child. You will be advised in writing before any immunization program is instituted.

Divorced or Separated Parents

The Pioneer Union Elementary School District shall not give preference to either parent when the family is involved in a legal action, such as divorce or separation, unless otherwise directed by a court order. It is the sole responsibility of the parent(s) to notify the District and provide a copy of any such order.

  1. Court Orders – At the beginning of each school year or upon enrollment of a student in the district, custodial parents shall provide “Emergency Card” information, including whether any court order governing a divorce, separation, or delineation of parental rights is in effect. When a court order is in effect, the custodial parent shall provide a copy of the court order to the school principal. The school principal shall inform the student’s classroom teachers when a court order restricts a noncustodial parent’s access to the student or to information about the student. If a school receives conflicting court orders, the most recent order shall govern.
  2. Student’s Release from School – A student enrolled in the district may be released from school to either the custodial or noncustodial parent, unless the custodial parent has presented a court or other legally binding document that prohibits release to a noncustodial parent.
  3. Participation of Noncustodial Parent – The noncustodial parent of any student enrolled in one of the District’s schools may be provided all report cards, notices of school activities, disciplinary reports, conference information and/or summaries, or other student records that are provided to the principal. Both parents may request additional records in conformance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, unless a court order specifies otherwise. The school generally will conduct only one parent-teacher conference per term, in which both parents will be permitted to participate.
  4. Residence of Student – The parent or guardian who enrolls a student shall be considered the custodial parent, and the parent’s residence shall be considered the student’s residence for school purposes, unless a court order specifies otherwise. The student’s parents are solely responsible for informing the school of names and mailing addresses of the custodial and noncustodial parents.
  5. Custody or Court Documents – The District and schools will follow all custody orders on file with the school office. Therefore, prior to filing papers with the school office parents shall be notified that as long as papers are on file at the school, the school will have to follow them as written.
  6. Written Recommendations from PUESD schools or employees – Written documentation can only be given if staff has written data, which is kept on all students. Parents can expect to receive information such as report cards, attendance, discipline tickets, promotion/retention information, state or District testing information and if appropriate special education documents. Therefore, staff will not write personal letters.

Emergency School Dismissal – Instructions to Parents

When an emergency situation arises and there is a need to dismiss school before the end of the school day, the following procedure will be followed:

  1. When the type of emergency has been identified, the decision to dismiss early will be made by the district Superintendent or designee.
  2. Depending on the type of emergency, if there is sufficient time to permit the students to walk or ride the bus home, school will be dismissed allowing the children who normally walk home leave and having the children who ride the bus wait for an available bus.
  3. If it is a type of emergency that will not allow enough time for the children to walk home safely or to be transported by bus, the teachers will keep the children in the classroom or other safe location on the school campus until someone comes for them or until the emergency situation has cleared and they can be dismissed.

The main thing to remember is not to panic. You should speak to your children about this and decide on a plan of what they are to do and where they are to go in case of emergency and early dismissal. It is our hope that we will never have to deal with an emergency situation; but it is always wise to be prepared. School and District Office Personnel will remain on duty until the emergency situation has passed and the children have been dismissed.

We ask your cooperation in alerting your children of the need to keep calm, listen carefully to instructions being given, and get home safely in the quickest manner possible when there is an emergency and they have been dismissed.

Epinephrine Medication

(E.C. sections 49423 and 49423.1)

State law now allows students with doctor authorization to carry and self-administer auto-injectable epinephrine or inhaled asthma medication if the school district receives a written statement of instructions from the physician detailing the method, amount, and time schedules by which such medication is to be taken.

Firearm Owner – Storage Responsibilities

(E.C. sections 48986)

You may be guilty of a misdemeanor or felony if you keep a loaded firearm within any premises that are under your custody or control and a child under 18 years of age obtains and uses it, resulting in injury or death, or carries it to a public place, unless you stored the firearm in a locked container or locked the firearm with a locking device to temporarily keep it from functioning.

There is no such thing as being too careful with children and guns. Child safety precautions still apply even if you have not children or your children have grown to adulthood and left home. A nephew, niece, neighbor’s child or a grandchild may come to visit. Practice gun safety at all times.

To prevent injury or death caused by improper storage of guns in a home where children are likely to be present, you should store all guns unloaded, lock them with a firearms safety device and store them in a locked container. Ammunition should be stored in a location separate from the gun.

Information for Use in Emergencies

(E.C. section 49408)

For the protection of your child’s health and welfare, we ask that you fill out and return the enclosed Emergency Information Card

Immunizations

(E.C. sections 49403 and 48216; Health and Safety Code sections 120335, 120365, and 120370)

Immunizations must be up-to-date before admission to any K-12 school program is granted. To enter or transfer into public and private elementary and secondary schools (grades kindergarten through 12), children under age 18 years must have immunizations as outlined below.

Please note, that starting July 1, 2011, a new school immunization law requires all students entering 7th in California to be immunized with a pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine booster called Tdap. The new requirement affects all students – current, new, and transfers – in public and private schools.

Vaccines and required doses are:

Polio

  • 4 doses at any age, but 3 doses meet requirement for ages 4-6 if at least one was given on or after the 4th birthday; 3 doses meet requirement for ages 7-17 years if at least one was given on or after the 2nd birthday.

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis

  • Age 6 years and under (Pertussis is required)
    • DTP, DtaP or any combination of DTP or DtaP with DT (tetanus and diphtheria).
    • 5 doses at any age, but 4 doses does meet requirements for ages 4-6 if at least one was on or after the 4th birthday.
    • 4 doses at any age, but 3 doses meet requirement for ages 7-17 years if at least one was on or after the 2nd birthday. If last dose was given before the 2nd birthday, one more (Td) dose is required.
    • 1 dose required before entering 7th grade.
  • Age 7 years and older
    • Td, DT, or DTP, DtaP or any combination of these.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

  • Kindergarten & 7th Grade
    • 2 doses both on or after 1st birthday.
  • Grades 1-6 and 8-12
    • 1 dose must be on or after 1st birthday.

Hepatitis B

  • Kindergarten & 7th grade
    • 3 doses at any age.
    • 3 doses** at any age.

Varicella***

Kindergarten & Out-of-state entrants (grades 1-12)

  • 1 dose*** on or after 1st birthday or health care provider documented varicella disease or immunity.
  • 1 dose for children under 13 years; 2 doses if immunized on or after 13th birthday.

* Two doses of measles-containing vaccine required. One dose of mumps and rubella-containing vaccine required; mumps vaccine is not required for children 7 years of age and older.

** Two doses of the 2-dose formulation given at age 11-15 years along with provider documentation that the 2-dose formulation was used for both doses will also fulfill this requirement.

*** Physician-documented varicella (chickenpox) disease history or immunity meets the varicella requirement

Beginning July 1, 2016 under SB277 public school districts and other educational institutions are prohibited from admitting a child for the first time, or admitting or advancing any student to the 7th grade, unless the child has been immunized for specific diseases (eliminating the “personal belief exemption). Students who filed with the school a letter or affidavit stating personal beliefs opposed to immunization prior to January 1, 2016, may continue to be enrolled until their next grade span. A ”grade span” is defined as: birth to preschool; kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, including transitional kindergarten; and grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The law allows physicians to excuse children for medical reason to elect medical exemptions. The law does not allow parents to elect an exemption simply because of inconvenience (a record is lost or incomplete and it is too much trouble to go to a physician or clinic to correct the problem). For children with medical exemptions, the physician’s written statement should be stapled to the CSIR.

SB 276 and 714, respectively, which place additional requirements on parents seeking immunization exemptions based on their child’s medical condition. Students who have a medical exemption issued before Jan. 1, 2021, will be allowed continued enrollment until they enroll in the next “grade span.” Grade spans are defined as follows: birth through preschool; kindergarten through 6th grade; and 7th through 12th grade. As of Jan. 1, 2021, the Ca Dept of Public Health must develop and make available a standardized, statewide medical exemption certification form, and school districts and county offices will only be allowed to accept medical exemption requests that are submitted on the CDPH’s form, which the student’s licensed physician or surgeon must complete and submit directly to the California Immunization Registry.

Schools maintain an up-to-date list of pupils with exemptions, so they can be excluded quickly if an outbreak occurs. If an outbreak of a communicable disease occurs at a school, the non-immunized student will be excluded for his/her own safety until such time as directed by health officials or district administration.

Kindergarten and First Grade Physical Examination

(Health and Safety Code sections 323.5, 324.2, and 324.3; E.C. sections 49450 and 49452.8)

Good health, including good oral health, is important to your child’s learning and successful academic career. State law requires that for each child enrolling in the first grade the parent must present a certificate, signed by a physician, verifying that the child has received a physical examination within the last 18 months. Likewise, state law requires that by May 31st of your child’s first school year in a public school, proof of an oral health assessment by a licensed dentist on your child must be presented. You may file with the school district a written objection or waiver stating the reasons if you are unable to obtain such services. You must understand that your child may be sent home if you fail to provide the certificate or waiver, or if your child is suspected to be suffering from a contagious disease. You may find it convenient to have your child immunized at the same time that the physical examination is conducted. These services may be available to you at no cost through the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program (“CHDP”). For information, you may contact CHDP at 584-1401, 330 Campus Dr.

Management Plan for Asbestos-Containing Material

(40 C.F.R. 763.84 and 40 C.F.R. 763.93)

A complete, updated management plan for asbestos-containing material in school buildings is available at each school office.

Medical and Hospital Services

(E.C. section 49472)

The school district does not provide insurance on individual students. However, you may purchase accident insurance through the district for medical and hospital services covering your child. The insurance provides coverage for your child while on school grounds or in school buildings during the time your child is required to be there because of his/her attendance during a regular school day of the district, or while being transported by the district to and from school or other place of instruction, or while at any other place as an incident to school-sponsored activities and while being transported to, from, and between such places. A letter indicating the details of this insurance will be forthcoming.

Hospital Instruction

PUESD provides home and hospital instruction to maintain instructional continuity during a student’s temporary disability.

Existing las requires each person subject to compulsory education to attend full-time school or continuation school. The Home and Hospital Instruction Program ( Ca. Ed. Code Section 48206.3) serves students who incur a temporary disability, which makes attendance in the regular day classes or alternative education program impossible or inadvisable. A temporary disability is defined as a physical, mental or emotional disability incurred while a student is enrolled in regular day classes or an alternative education program, and after which the student can reasonably be expected to return to regular day classes or the alternative education program without special intervention. A temporary disability does not include a disability for which a student is identified as an individual with exceptional needs pursuant to California Education Code Section 56026.

Students are expected to return to their regular day class or alternative education program at their former level of performance once the temporary disability is no longer in effect.

For more information on the Home and Hospital Instructional Program, please contact the Director of Student Support Services at 559-585-2400.

Pesticide Warnings

(E.C. sections 17612 and 48980.3)

The district has implemented an integrated pest management program designed to effectively control pests using a combination of techniques. Pesticides that pose the least possible hazard and are effective in a manner that minimizes risks to people, property, and the environment may be used according to established regulations and treatment thresholds.

Pursuant to the Healthy Schools Act of 2000, the district is required to notify staff and parents of the name of all pesticide products expected to be applied at the school facility during the upcoming year. These products are as follows:

Product Name Pest Treated

  1. Bayer Advanced Insect Killer Insects
  2. Hot Shot Fogger Insects
  3. Hornet/Wasp Spray Hornet/Wasp
  4. Maxide Insect Killer Insects
  5. Ground Squirrel Bait Squirrels
  6. Carpenter Ants Killer Carpenter Ants
  7. Round Up Weeds
  8. Goal Weeds
  9. Surlan Weeds

If you wish to receive notification of individual pesticide applications at the school facility, please complete the registration form available at the District Office (1888 N. Mustang Dr. Hanford). You will receive notification at least 72 hours prior to the application.

Information regarding pesticide information may be obtained at the website for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation at www.cdpr.ca.gov. District IPM Plan can be viewed at www.puesd.net or in the school office.

Physical Examinations

(E.C. section 49451)

If you want your child to be exempt from physical examinations at school, you must file a written statement signed by you with the school refusing such an exam. However, when there is a good reason to believe that your child is suffering from a recognized contagious or infectious disease, he/she may be sent home and shall not be permitted to return to school until the contagious or infectious disease does not exist and the child is cleared to return by the physician.

School Safety Plans

(E.C. sections 32280 et seq.)

Each school site has established a Safety Plan. The plan is available to the public through the district office on request, and copies are provided to local law enforcement.

School Buses and Passenger Safety

(E.C. section 39831.5)

See attached Transportation Safety Plan and review the rules with your child for both field trip and school to home transportation.

Scoliosis Screening

(E.C. section 49452.5)

If your child is enrolled in grades 7 through 12, and is suspected of having curvature of the spine, please notify the school office. If your child is identified at school as having this condition, you will be notified.

Sex Offender Information: “Megan’s Law”

(Penal Code section 290.4)

The Sex Offender Identification Line is a telephone service for use by the public and organizations to identify serious sex offenders. This district does not disseminate this information; however, anyone at least 18 years of age may call (900) 463-0400. You will need the following information on the person you are checking on: Name and ONE of the following: address, birthdate, driver’s license number or Social Security number. You will be charged a flat rate of $10 for information on up to two individuals. You may also receive information from your local law enforcement agency or view the Attorney General’s Home Page at www.caag.state.ca.us.

Sight and Hearing Test

(E.C. sections 49452)

The district is required to provide for the testing of the sight and hearing of each student enrolled in school unless you submit a written denial of consent.

Synthetic Drug Safety

Assembly Bill 889 added Section 48985.5 to the California Education Code. This new law requires public schools to share information annually about the dangers of fentanyl.

The misuse and abuse of opioids and other drugs, including prescription medication, is already cause for concern; however, there has been a rise in the prevalence of fentanyl use across the United States.

“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison. We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day.”

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than morphine and is now causing more deaths across the country. We are highly concerned about our young people as many drugs including marijuana may contain deadly levels of fentanyl which cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. The District is working to raise awareness and combat this issue impacting our students and community. Please see the following resources for more information:

Tobacco-Free Schools/No Smoking Policy

(Health and Safety Code section 104420)

The Governing Board recognizes that the health hazards associated with smoking and the use of tobacco products, including the breathing of second-hand smoke, are inconsistent with the goal to provide a healthy environment for students and staff. The law requires that all recipients of any state and/or federal grant or contract maintain tobacco-free school sites.

Please be advised that use of tobacco products at any time by students, staff, parents, or visitors, is strictly prohibited in district-owned or leased buildings, on district property, and in district vehicles. This prohibition applies to all employees, students, and visitors at any school-sponsored instructional program, activity, or athletic event held on or off district property. Prohibited products include any product containing tobacco or nicotine, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew, clove cigarettes, betel, and nicotine delivery devices such as electronic cigarettes. Exceptions may be made for the use or possession of prescription nicotine products.

Any employee or student who violates the district’s tobacco-free schools policy shall be asked to refrain from smoking and shall be subject to disciplinary action as appropriate. Any other person who violates the district’s policy on tobacco-free schools shall be informed of the district’s policy and asked to refrain from smoking. If the person fails to comply with this request, the Superintendent or designee may direct the person to leave school property, request local law enforcement assistance in removing the person from school premises, and/or prohibit him/her from entering district property for a specified period of time.

Type 2 Diabetes

(E.C. section 49452.7)

All 7th grade students and parents shall provide information regarding Type 2 Diabetes. Information will be given with the first day information packet. Pursuant to the requirements of E.C. section 49452.7, the information sheet has been developed by the California Department of Education and can be located at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/type2diabetes.asp.

Use of Sunscreen Permitted

(E.C. section 35183.5)

Students may carry and use sunscreen without a doctor’s note or prescription, and may also wear sun-protective clothing and hats outside of the classroom, cafeteria, and multipurpose rooms.

Vision Appraisal

(E.C. section 49455)

The district is required to appraise each student’s vision upon initial enrollment and every third year thereafter until the student completes the 8th grade. The appraisal will include tests for visual acuity and color vision; however, color vision will be appraised once and only on male students. The evaluation may be waived upon presentation of a certificate from a physician or surgeon, physician’s assistant, or optometrist setting out the results of a determination of the student’s vision, including visual acuity and color vision.

Wellness

Pioneer Union Elementary School District believes our student’s health and wellness are an essential part of their education. Physical Education and Nutrition are two things we value as a district. We have a Wellness Committee in place to regularly review what we are doing as a district. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Wellness Committee, please contact the office.

Wellness and Mental Health Services

In accordance with AB 2022, the district wants to ensure that parents, guardians, and students are informed about resources available for anyone who believes they are in a mental health crisis. We encourage parents/guardians and students to talk with any adult in the school district if they are concerned about a student and possible mental health needs.

A school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker may provide individualized personal, mental health, or family counseling to students in accordance with the specialization authorized by his/her credential.

Mental Health Community Services

  • KIND Center
    1222 W Lacey Blvd., Hanford CA 93230
    (559) 235-9239
  • Kings View – Adult Service Provider
    1393 Bailey Drive, Hanford CA 93230
    (559) 582-4481
  • Kings County Crisis Line
    Kings View (559) 582-4484 or 1-877-306-2413
  • Peer-To-Peer Non-Crisis Warmline
    1-800-655-2553
  • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
    Call or Text 988