Catholic school board works on head lice
Changes would put onus on parents

Jan 19, 2006

DURHAM -- The Durham Catholic District School Board could be changing the way it handles head lice.

During a Jan. 16 board policy committee meeting, members approved a first reading of a draft policy.

"This particular policy is a new policy," said Paul Pulla, a superintendent for the Catholic board.

Although the board has always had a procedure for head lice, they never had a policy, he added.

Specific changes to how lice outbreaks would be handled include making head checks the responsibility of parents and removing the requirement for schools to have screening committees.

Mr. Pulla said the issue of privacy has come up during past procedures, so in developing the new policy he looked at what other boards are doing.

"We've had issues with parents rejecting... (having) their children be checked," said Mr. Pulla.

Under the policy, all principals have to provide the school community with information regarding prevention, identification and treatment in accordance with the administrative procedure. Students who are identified with head lice or nits must be treated and cleared of both lice and nits to prevent the spread to others.

The policy will go to the school board for a first reading, then sent to stakeholders for comment and posted on the board's website for four to six weeks before going back for a second reading.

http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/durham/story/3271235p-3788125c.html