Health Services

When should my child stay home from school?

In general, the following information is intended to help decide when a student should stay home:

• If a student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student should stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal without fever reducing medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• If a student has vomited or had diarrhea, the student must stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If a student has had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your health care provider before sending the student to school.
• If a student is ill, please call the school daily to report the illness.
• Please contact the school Health Office if your child has any injury or illness that will require modifications in his/her school day, prior to returning to school.

When a child becomes ill at school

• If your child/adolescent becomes ill at school and needs to go home, Health Service staff will attempt to contact a parent/guardian.
• The emergency contact on the Student Health Information Sheet will be contacted if we feel your child needs to go home and we are unable to reach a parent/guardian.
• Your child will NOT be allowed to leave school without contacting an adult.
• Please update the health office with any changes in these contacts.

Homework

• If your child misses three or more days, please contact individual teachers via voicemail or email for homework or homework questions.
• Homebound instruction may be requested after three weeks absence.

Report an Absence

Attendance phone numbers:
Kaposia: (651) 457-9422
Lincoln Center: (651) 457-9498
Secondary: (651) 457-9415
CLC: (651) 450-9966

SSPPS follows guidance from our health experts at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  MDH and CDC have issued updated guidelines for managing respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. If you experience symptoms of a respiratory virus, it is recommended to take the following steps:

Screen for symptoms at home. Stay home when you are sick.

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Stay away from others until:

• Symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours, and
• If a fever was present, it has subsided without the use of fever-reducing medication

Precautionary Measures

After resuming normal activities, it's important to continue taking precautions for the next 5 days to minimize the risk of disease transmission. This includes:

• Practicing enhanced hygiene, such as frequent handwashing
• Wearing a well-fitting mask
• Maintaining physical distance from others
• Consider getting tested for respiratory viruses

This updated guidance provides a unified approach to managing the risks associated with various common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

What to Know About Measles

• Measles is a serious and highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when someone coughs or breathes
• Cases of the measles have been increasing in Minnesota and across the country this year, making it even more important for families to know how to protect against it and what to do if someone becomes ill

Protecting Your Child and Others

• The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is the most effective protection against the measles
• Some families choose not to vaccinate for various reasons, and we respect those decisions
• Understanding your family’s options and staying informed can help prevent the spread of illness and keep our community safe

If Your Child is Exposed or Becomes Ill

• If your child has an MMR exemption, they may be required to stay home from school and activities for 21 days or longer if exposed to the measles
• If your unvaccinated child is exposed, or someone in your household is diagnosed with, the school will:
  • Guide you on how to quarantine (stay home and out of school); and
  • Provide educational support like homebound instruction so your child can continue learning safely and keep our school community safe from the measles

Learn More

More information about the risks of measles disease and the safety and importance of MMR immunization can be found on Measles Basics (www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/measles/basics.html).

Student Vaccinations

To attend school at South St. Paul and other public schools in Minnesota, students must show that they've had certain immunizations, or provide Medical Exemption or Notarized Conscientious Exemption. All students immunization records must be up-to-date in accordance with SSPPS Policy 530- Immunization Requirements.

No Shots, No School Program

South St. Paul Public Schools participates in a program called No Shots, No School through HealthPartners. With this partnership, families can have their child immunized, whether they have health insurance or not, at no direct charge to the family. You also do not need to be an existing HealthPartners patient to schedule an immunization-only visit through No Shots, No School. For more information or to schedule a free immunization only appointment, visit the HealthPartners- No Shots, No School Webpage. 

Dakota County Vaccination Program

Dakota County health also offers free vaccinations for children and adults who do not have health insurance. For more information on vaccine eligibility requirements or to schedule a vaccination appointment visit Dakota County Health Vaccine Clinics Webpage.

Is Your Child School Ready?

Make sure your child's immunizations are up to date: Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Are Your Kids Ready? (click on "who needs vaccines, when" to view document) You can also call the Public Health Immunization Information Line at 952-891-7999 (English and Spanish). If your child is up-to-date, but you are unsure of how to find their vaccination records, visit The Minnesota Department of Health webpage.  Vaccination records can be sent to your student's school health office.

• English required immunizations
• Spanish required immunizations

District Procedures and Minnesota Statutes require the following:

• Prescription medications and procedures: require written authorization from the parent and a licensed healthcare provider; unless the student is 18 years or older
• Over-the counter medications: require written authorization from the parent only; unless the student is 18 years or older
• All medications must come in their original container and with a current prescription label (when applicable).
• The following medications may be self-carry with parental consent (and licensed prescriber consent, when necessary):
  • Prescription asthma inhalers
  • Epinephrine delivery systems (with prescriber consent)
  • Insulin
  • Over-the-counter pain relief (for secondary students only)
• Self-carry medications are subject to approval by a licensed nurse 
• The health office does not carry stock over-the-counter medications
• New medication forms are required at the beginning of each school year and when changes are made from the original form

English Forms:

• Anaphylaxis Action Plan
• Asthma Action Plan
• Medication Consent
• Seizure Action Plan
• Diabetes Plan and Diabetes Questionnaire

Spanish Forms:

• Anaphylaxis Action Plan- SP
• Asthma Action Plan- SP
• Medication Consent- SP
• Seizure Action Plan- SP

Good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu. The tips and resources below will help you learn about steps you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, coronaviruses, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands.  Wear a mask in public if you are sick to help prevent spreading your illness to others.
4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention