Section 5 Health and Safety

Each school maintains an asbestos management plan describing asbestos-containing materials in the building. Parents may review the plans at the school sites or at the District Office.

Bicycle riders are subject to Illinois traffic laws. It is strongly advised that every student register his/her bike with the Northbrook Police Department. Please remember:

• Be sure to wear proper safety gear, including a helmet.
• Have proper lights and reflectors in front and rear of bike.
• Be sure your bike is always in proper operating condition.
• Be sure to obey all traffic signals; keep to the right; exercise caution at all times.
• Walk your bicycle across intersections; stay on designated bike paths only.
• Yield to pedestrians; be alert when riding your bike.
• Bikes must be parked in the bike rack at school; do not ride around the parking lot.
• Be sure to have your own bike lock and use it at all times.
• Never lock your bike to someone else’s bike.
• Respect others’ property at all times.
• Do not “ride double.”
• Exercise extreme caution in poor weather conditions.
• Ride single file when in a group.

Bicycles, Scooters and Roller Blades

Bicycles must be locked in the bike racks. Skateboards and scooters must be kept in the location determined by the school. Roller blades must be kept in the student’s locker. Walk your bicycle on school property; carry your skateboard or scooter on school property; and change roller blades to street shoes before arriving on school property.

Illinois Public Act 098-0305 requires the Illinois High School Association to post a training video about hands-on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator use on its website. Local school districts are directed to provide the video link to staff and families. 

There are several ways to find out if school is closed.

• Watch for an e-mail and/or text message from the district’s mass notification system. Have you changed your email address or phone number since registration? Please call your school secretary to update your information.
• Visit this website, Northbrook28.net, where alerts will be posted.
• If you participate in Facebook or Instagram, an update will be posted on the district's page.
• Local media outlets also show the Emergency Closing System where the district posts closing information along with all other metro area schools. 

How do we make our decision?

We make the decision to open or close the schools in inclement weather based on a careful analysis of all relevant factors, such as:

• Information on road conditions from our transportation provider and from our buildings and grounds department: We must give careful consideration to the most dangerous roads in the District.
• Amount of snow and ice accumulation and whether it is continuing.
• Building conditions (such as whether we have electricity and heat).
• Parking lot conditions: Administrators talk to maintenance and custodial staff members who are responsible for clearing and treating school parking lots and sidewalks.
• Temperature and wind chill: some of our students walk to school and others must wait outside for the bus. School is closed when there is a Wind-Chill Warning, which is typically issued when the wind chill will be -30 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, and the winds are greater than or equal to 10 mph, OR the actual temperature is -15° F.
• Weather predictions: We prefer not making our decision based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate. However, sometimes this is unavoidable.
• What other school districts are doing: We make our decision in cooperation with other Northbrook area elementary districts and with Glenbrook North High School.

(refer to Board Policy 7:285)

School attendance may increase a student’s risk of exposure to allergens that could trigger a food-allergic reaction. A food allergy is an adverse reaction to a food protein mediated by the immune system, which immediately reacts causing the release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals and mediators. While it is not possible for the District to completely eliminate the risks of exposure to allergens when a student is at school, a Food Allergy Management Program using a cooperative effort among students’ families, staff members, and students helps the District reduce these risks and provide accommodations and proper treatment for allergic reactions.

If your child has a food allergy, contact the School Nurse and provide an “Allergy Emergency Care Plan” with parent and physician signature. All medical forms used in District 28 may be downloaded under Families/Medical_Forms

The State of Illinois has several requirements for health examinations over the course of a child’s school career as listed in the table below:

 

Grade of Child	Type of Exam	Due Date
Kindergarten, 2nd & 6th Grades	*Dental exam	May 15
Kindergarten and new students from out of state	**Vision screening or eye exam by Optometrist or Ophthalmologist	Oct. 15
Kindergarten, 6th grade & new students	Health Exam	within one year of the first day of school

**Vision Screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo the school’s vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report form indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months.

Religious Exemption Form

Public Act 99-024, effective Aug. 3, 2015,

Requires parents and legal guardians who object to vaccinating their students for religious reasons to submit a Certificate of Religious Exemption, signed by a health care provider. Previously, a parent could simply submit a statement of objection. The Certificate of Religious Exemption form is available at the Illinois Department of Public Health website.  The requirement for a Certificate of Religious  Exemption will take effect Oct. 16. This date means any students who enroll after Oct. 15 or who have not yet provided proof of immunization must provide a Certificate of Religious Exemption. However, students who have already gone through the process would not be required to revisit a healthcare provider. Additional information and some best practices on immunizations are available http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/immunization/religious-exemption. 

(refer to Board Policy 6:150)

A student who is absent from school because of a medical condition may be eligible for instruction in the student’s home or hospital. Eligibility shall be determined by State law and the Illinois State Board of Education rule governing the continuum of placement options for home/hospital services. Appropriate educational services from qualified staff shall begin as soon as eligibility is established after receiving a written statement from a physician, physician assistant, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse.   Instructional or related services for a student receiving special education services will be determined by the student’s individualized education program.

(refer to Board Policy 7:270-May 2019)

District 28 requires parent and physician written permission to administer medication at school. This includes over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, eye drops, etc. Medication brought to school must be in an appropriately labeled container from the pharmacy.

Medication Administration Request Form is effective for the school year and permission must be renewed each subsequent school year.

For Students Needing Inhalers:

Students with asthma are permitted to carry and self-administer their inhalers as needed, if they have parent permission and a copy of the prescription label on the container (instead of a written note from the physician.) Parents choosing the option of having the student responsible for the inhaler should complete the “Parent/Student Agreement to Carry Inhaler.” For students with moderate to severe asthma, an “Asthma Emergency Care Plan” form should be completed by the physician.

For Students Needing Epinephrine Auto-Injectors:

Students at risk of anaphylaxis are permitted to carry and self-administer their epinephrine auto-injectors. Parents choosing this option should complete the “Parent/Student Agreement to Carry Epinephrine Auto-Injector.” In addition, students with severe food allergies are required to provide an “Allergy Emergency Care Plan” with parent and physician signature. 

All medical forms used in District 28 may be downloaded at on the Medical Forms page.

District Supply of Epinephrine Auto-Injectors

The superintendent or designee shall implement 105 ILCS5/22-30 of the School Code and maintain a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors in the name of the district and provide or administer them as necessary according to State law. This 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 school epinephrine auto-injectors and a standing protocol from a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, or (2) fill the district’s prescription for school epinephrine auto-injectors.  Upon implementation of this subsection and Section 22-30(f) of the School Code, the protections from liability and hold harmless provisions as explained in Section 22-30© of the School Code apply.  No one, including without limitation parents/guardians of student, should rely on the district for the availability of an epinephrine auto-injector. This policy does not guarantee the availability of an epinephrine auto-injector; students and their parents/guardians should consult their own physician regarding this medication.

Administration of Medical Cannabis

In accordance with the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program, qualifying students are allowed to utilize medical cannabis- infused products while at school and school events. Please contact the building principal for additional information. Discipline of a student for being administered a product by a designated caregiver pursuant to this procedure is prohibited. The district may not deny a student attendance at a school solely because he or she requires administration of the product during school hours.

Undesignated Medications

The school may maintain the following undesignated prescription medications for emergency use: (1) Asthma medication; (2) Epinephrine injectors; (3) Opioid antagonists; and (4) Glucagon.  No one, including without limitation, parents/guardians of students, should rely on the school or district for the availability of undesignated medication. This procedure does not guarantee the availability of undesignated medications. Students and their parents/guardians should consult their own physician regarding these medication(s).

(refer to Board Policy 6:50)

Student wellness, including good nutrition and physical activity, shall be promoted in the District’s educational program, school activities, and meal programs. This policy shall be interpreted consistently with federal and state law.

Goals for Nutrition Education and Nutrition Promotion

The goals for addressing nutrition education and nutrition promotion include the following:

1. Schools will support and promote good nutrition for students.
2. Schools will foster the positive relationship between good nutrition, physical activity, and the capacity of students to develop and learn.
3. Nutrition education will be part of the District’s comprehensive health education curriculum. See Board policy 6:60, Curriculum Content.

Goals for Physical Activity

The goals for addressing physical activity include the following:

1. Schools will support and promote an active lifestyle for students.
2. Physical education will be taught in all grades and shall include a developmentally planned and sequential curriculum that fosters the development of movement skills, enhances health-related fitness, increases students’ knowledge, offers direct opportunities to learn how to work cooperatively in a group setting, and encourages healthy habits and attitudes for a healthy lifestyle. See Board policy 6:60, Curriculum Content.
3. During the school day, all students will be required to engage in a daily physical education course unless otherwise exempted.
4. The curriculum will be consistent with and incorporate relevant Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health as established by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Nutrition Guidelines for Foods Available in Schools During the School Day

Students will be offered and schools will promote nutritious food and beverage choices consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Food Guidance System published jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. In addition, in order to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity, the Superintendent or designee shall control food sales that compete with the District’s non-profit food service in compliance with the Child Nutrition Act. Food service rules shall restrict the sale of foods of minimal nutritional value, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the food service areas during the meal periods and comply with all applicable rules of the Illinois State Board of Education.

Guidelines for Reimbursable School Meals

Reimbursable school meals served shall meet, at a minimum, the nutrition requirements and regulations for the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.