November 4, 2010 Consultation Agenda

HOUSTON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

Please include the following to the November 4, 2010 Instructional Consultation agenda:

1. School Safety and Discipline

The HFT has received a barrage of discipline complaints from teachers, many of which involve failure of administration to comply with the mandates of Chapter 37 TEC. We will provide documentation at the meeting.

2. Nurses being required to transport students

We have dealt with this issue before but with the increase in new principals it appears we have to re-invent the wheel. Principals are directing nurses to transport ill children home in their own personal cars. This is a liability nurses do not want and cannot be mandated to accept. Let the principal transport the student in his or her own personal car.

The following is the district response to Agenda Item #2

MEMORANDUM November 10, 2010

TO: Principals

FROM: Academic Services

SUBJECT: SCHOOL NURSES TRANSPORTING ILL STUDENTS

CONTACT: Evelyn Henry, Health and Medical Services, 713-556-7280

Concern regarding the issue of school nurses transporting students has been raised. In efforts to maintain student safety as well as guidance for principals, the following information is provided regarding the transport of ill and/or injured students during the school day.

The school nurse has the duty to examine and assess ill and injured students prior to making a decision, in collaboration with the building principal, to send students home or to activate the approved Campus Emergency Plan which includes calling the Emergency Medical System (EMS) 911.

While the school nurse’s job description includes making home visits, it does not include transporting ill students. Transportation home is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian (Handbook for School Health, pg.148).

Please contact Evelyn Henry at 713-556-7280 for additional information.



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