• METHACTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
    MEDICATION POLICY
     
    Methacton School District recognizes that students may have various medication needs throughout their school attendance. The Board shall not be responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of student illness. The administration of prescribed medication in accordance with the directions of the family physician to a student will be permitted during school hours only when failure to take such medication would jeopardize the health of the student OR the student would not be able to attend school if the medication were not made available during school hours. Whenever possible, medications should be scheduled so as to be administered at home, and not brought to school. Since this is not always possible or practical, the following policy is adopted to provide necessary controls over medications, while permitting the dispensing of necessary medication in a supervised fashion.
     
    Short Term Medication (one day or two months duration). 
    A note from the parent/guardian or doctor is required.
     
    1. It will state the name of the drug and instructions for dispensing (amount and time).
    2. Medication should be labeled with the child's name. 
    3. Only medication for dispensing in school should be brought to the nurse's office when he/she is in the building or taken to the main office when the nurse is not available.
     
    Long Term Duration (2 months or more).
    This will require a note from the parent and the physician prescribing the medication. The note must contain the name of the medication and instructions for dispensing. The medication must be in the original container and labeled with the child's name. The school nurse may contact the parent prior to the last couple of doses. At the discretion of the school nurse, parents may be requested to bring the medication to school. Medication may be counted by the school nurse who will contact the parents with any questions or concerns.  The note expires at the end of the school year.
     
    Dispensing of medication will be done by the school nurse. If the nurse is not available, efforts will be made to provide a substitute, but in the absence of a nurse, medication may be dispensed by the principal's designee, Parents may be requested to come to school to administer the medication.

    Students are not permitted to carry medications in school. This includes all prescriptive, OTC and homeopathic preparations.  Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action which may include recommendation for expulsion.

    Carrying medications (inhalers, students with chronic conditions) by students may be permitted under certain conditions. The school nurse must be notified of any student that needs to carry medication. A physician's note, with dosage and instructions for dispensing, and a parent approval note are required. The principal and the classroom teacher should be aware of these students. Prior approval is required.
     
    The school district will give the following over the counter medications:
    • Tylenol
    • Advil
    • Benadryl
    • Mylanta
    • Pepto Bismol
    • Coke Syrup
    • Throat spray/Lozenge 
    Field trips are out-of-school learning experiences that represent special circumstances that may not be accommodated by in-school medication policy. Field trips with students who require medication will follow a prescribed course of action: 
    1. Adjust the time of dispensing the medication, or,
    2. Medication will be dispensed by the principal designee (the nurse will package the medication and label with the appropriate information: NAME, MEDICATION, DOSAGE, TIME TO BE ADMIMSTERED), or,
    3. The parent of the student may be requested to accompany the child on the trip, or,
    4. The school nurse has the discretion to determine that a nurse should dispense the medication. If a nurse is needed, arrangements will be made to have a nurse accompany the student on the field trip for the purpose of dispensing medication only, and;
    5. If a nurse or parent is unable to accompany the student, the matter will be referred to the principal for final disposition. 
    Emergency medications (e.g. Epipen/Anakit) that require immediate dispensing/administration are permitted to be carried by students on their person, with prior arrangement. The school nurse should have knowledge of these students. A physician's note and parent approval is required. It is encouraged that these medications be kept in the nurse's office. If the student carries an Epipen/Anakit, the principal and the classroom teacher should be aware and it is of utmost importance that the adult with the student knows where the Epipen/Anakit is. Anyone can administer the medication in a life-threatening situation. 
     
    The school physician may be consulted by the school nurse or the principal at any time with questions or concerns regarding medication administered in school.
     
    Mandated Programs as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Department of Health must be completed and on file in the School Health Record of each student.
    • Physical Examination - Grades K/ 1, 6, 11
    • Dental Examinations - Grades K/1, 3, 7
    Failure to complete these requirements may prevent the student from advancing from the grade until the requirements are satisfied. 
     
    Homeopathic preparations will be considered short term "medications". It is encouraged that these preparations be given at home. A parent's note and the preparation in the original container are required. A doctor's note will be needed for any long-term dispensing/administration.