Students should not take medication during school hours or during school-related activities unless it is necessary for a student's health and well-being. When a student's licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child and otherwise follow the District's procedures on dispensing medication.

No School District employee shall administer to any student, or supervise a student's self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed "School Medication Authorization Form" is submitted by the student's parent/guardian.  No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in this policy and its implementing procedures.

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.

The Building Principal shall include this policy in the Student Handbook and shall provide a copy to the parents/guardians of students.

Self-Administration of Medication

A student may possess an epinephrine auto-injector, e.g. EpiPen and/or asthma medication prescribed for use at the student's discretion, provided the student's parent/guardian has completed and signed a School Medication Authorization Form. The School District shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student's self-administration of medication or epinephrine auto-injector or the storage of any medication by school personnel.  A student's parent/guardian must indemnify and hold harmless the School District and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student's self-administration of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or medication, or the storage of any medication by school personnel.

School District Supply of Undesignated Epinephrine Auto-Injectors

The Superintendent or designee shall implement Section 22-30(f) of the School Code and maintain a supply of undesignated epinephrine auto-injectors in the name of the District and provide or administer them as necessary according to State law. Undesignated epinephrine auto-injector means an epinephrine auto-injector prescribed in the name of the District or one of its schools. A school nurse or trained personnel, as defined in State law, may administer an undesignated epinephrine auto-injector to a person when they, in good faith, believe a person is having an anaphylactic reaction. Each building administrator and/or his or her corresponding school nurse shall maintain the names of trained personnel who have received a statement of certification pursuant to State law.

School District Supply of Undesignated Opioid Antagonists

The Superintendent or designee shall implement Section 22-30(f) of the School Code and maintain a supply of undesignated opioid antagonists, at the high school level in the name of the District and provide or administer them as necessary according to State law. Opioid antagonist means a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, naloxone hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Undesignated opioid antagonist is not defined by the School Code; for purposes of this policy it means an opioid antagonist prescribed in the name of the District or one of its schools. A school nurse or trained personnel, as defined in State law, may administer an undesignated opioid antagonist to a person when they, in good faith, believe a person is having an opioid overdose.  The high school administrator and/or his or her corresponding school nurse shall maintain the names of trained personnel who have received a statement of certification pursuant to State law.

Void Policy; Disclaimer

The School District Supply of Undesignated Epinephrine Auto-Injectors section of the policy is void whenever the Superintendent or designee is, for whatever reason, unable to: (1) obtain for the District a prescription for undesignated epinephrine auto-injectors from a physician or advanced practice nurse licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, or (2) fill the District's prescription for undesignated school epinephrine auto-injectors.

The School District Supply of Undesignated Opioid Antagonists section of the policy is void whenever the Superintendent or designee is, for whatever reason, unable to: (1) obtain for the District a prescription for opioid antagonists from a health care professional who has been delegated prescriptive authority for opioid antagonists in accordance with Section 5-23 of the Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, or (2) fill the District's prescription for undesignated school opioid antagonists. 

Upon any administration of an undesignated epinephrine auto-injector or an opioid antagonist, the Superintendent or designee(s) must ensure all notifications required by State law and administrative procedures occur.

Upon implementation of this policy, the protections from liability and hold harmless provisions as explained in Section 22-30(c) of the School Code apply.

No one, including without limitation parents/guardians of students, should rely on the District for the availability of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or opioid antagonist. This policy does not guarantee the availability of an epinephrine auto-injector and/or opioid antagonist; students and their parents/guardians should consult their own physician regarding such medication(s).

LEGAL REF.:

105 ILCS 5/10-20.14b, 5/10-22.21b, and 5/22-30.

23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.540.

CROSS REF.: 7:285 (Food Allergy Management)

ADOPTED: December 2001

REVISED: June 2, 2009; May 15, 2012