Health Services
| Executive Director of Human Resources: | Steve Potts |
| Phone Number: | (479) 254-5108 |
Health Services in the school setting is one of the most rapidly expanding subspecialties of nursing. To keep up with this growing trend, Bentonville Public Schools provides experienced and qualified Registered Nurses in every school. As increased attention has focused on the schools as a site where prevention, early intervention, education, and acute care occurs, the school nursing role has changed to incorporate increased responsibilities for managing the health service program and expanded clinical skills to serve students with a wide range of health risks, illnesses, and disabilities.
Newsletter:
- Hypoglycemia and Diabetes New !!
- 12 Possible Heart Symptoms Never to Ignore
- ABC's of Fever
- Back to School with the Flu News Release from ADH
- Flu Newsletter and Facts - August '09
- February Men's Health Focus
- February Women's Health Focus
- April Adult Asthma Health Focus
Registered Nurses:
Health Services Links:
- Arkansas Coordinated School Health
- Medication Administration
- Immunizations
- Medical Exemption
- Religious Exemption
- Philosophical Exemptions
- Screenings: Vision | Hearing | Scoliosis
- Body Mass Index: Arkansas Act 1220 of 2003
- ARKids 1st Information and Application
- Information on Influenza Updated !!
- Sponsors
- MRSA Information from the CDC
- TB and Leprosy Information
Medication Administration:
Arkansas State Board of Nursing School Nurse Roles and Responsibilities Practice Guidelines will be followed at all times.Non-Prescription (over-the-counter) medications — Certain non-prescription medications are available per Nurse’s assessment to students with a signed Health History form on file from a parent/guardian. A Health History Form must be signed and returned to the nurse’s office before administering any non-prescription medications.
Health History Form: English | Spanish
All medications (prescription or non-prescription) must be brought to the school nurse by the parent/guardian in the original container. All prescription medications must be clearly marked as to the contents by the pharmacy or doctor labeling. Disciplinary action will occur for students found with prescription or non-prescription medications at school in their possession.
Immunizations:
Arkansas State Board of Health: Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Immunization Requirements. (Ark Code Ann. §§ 20-7-109, 6-18-702, 6-60-504, and 20-78-206)Arkansas State Board of Health: Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Immunization Requirements
The Bentonville School District will temporarily admit a child provided that the child becomes appropriately immunized, is in-process of receiving the needed doses of vaccine, or shows proof that they have applied for an exemption for those vaccines he/she has not received within thirty (30) program days after the child's original admission.
You may get a copy of a shot record by contacting the Benton County Health Department, your health care provider, or the Division of Communicable Disease/Immunization at (501) 661-2169.
You may get information on the immunization rates for Arkansas by contacting the Division of Communicable Disease/Immunization at (501) 661-2169.
CDC National Immunization Program Web Site: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
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Medical Exemption:
Only a letter by the MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE/IMMUNIZATION, stating the vaccine or vaccines for which a child is exempt is to be accepted as a valid medical exemption by the school. Statements from private physicians are not to be accepted by the school WITHOUT this letter.
A child, who has had a vaccine-preventable disease, as documented by an appropriate diagnostic or blood serology test, should not be required to have the vaccine for that disease. A child who is uncertain of their disease history or has lost their immunization records should be immunized for that disease(s), if serology test results are unavailable.
Medical Exemption Information
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Religious Exemption
The Arkansas Department of Health’s standard form for religious exemptions must be submitted to the Division of CD/Immunization. A notarized statement is required from a pastor or church official that the parents or guardians are members or adherents of a recognized church or religious denomination whose tenets are opposed to immunization.
Religious exemptions are issued for one year only and must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. These requests should be forwarded to the Director, Division of CD/Immunization, Arkansas Department of Health, 4815 W. Markham, Slot 48, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205.
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Philosophical Exemptions
In addition to the general requirements found in section IV (A), the Arkansas Department of Health's standard form for philosophical exemptions must be submitted to the Division of CD/Immunization. This form is available from the Arkansas Department of Health upon request. A notarized statement is required from the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) that immunizations conflict with their philosophical beliefs.
Screenings:
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Kindergarten Physical: Arkansas Codes Ann. 6-15-202 (1987) and 6-18-701 (1987)
Rules and Regulations for Kindergarten Physicals
Comprehensive and Developmental Preschool Examination: All enrolling kindergarten students shall be evaluated with the Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) equivalent.
The EPSDT or its equivalent shall occur within two years prior to or within 90 days after the student’s initial enrollment in kindergarten.
If the child does not attend kindergarten, the EPSDT or its equivalent shall occur either within two years prior to or within 90 days after the student’s initial enrollment in first grade.
Any pupil may be excused from the examination on presentation of a certificate from a reputable physician that he has recently examined the pupil or on presentation of a written statement of the pupil’s parent or guardian that he objects to the examination of his child or ward, but this provision shall not be applicable in case of a pupils suspected of having a contagious or infectious disease (Ark. Code Ann. 6-18-701).
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Vision:
Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act § 25-15-201 et seq. and Act § 6-18-1501
Rules for Vision Screening
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Vision Screenings
Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, all children in pre-kindergarten (PK), kindergarten (K), grades one (1), two (2), four (4), six (6), and eight (8), and all transfer students shall receive an eye and vision screening.
Nothing in this act shall preclude voluntary screening of any educational grade or preclude the referral of any child, regardless of grade, whom the teacher or school nurse feels should be screened or examined.
An eye and vision screening report shall be sent or given to each parent or guardian of each child in need of a comprehensive eye and vision examination that has failed the second vision-screening test.
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Eye Exams
A child who does not pass the eye and vision screening tests, except for the color perception test, shall be required to have a comprehensive eye and vision examination conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist within sixty (60) days of receipt of the vision screening report identifying the need for the examination.
The local school district shall take such action and access all resources necessary to encourage that the child receives an appropriate examination. If a child does not receive an appropriate examination, as evidenced by a certificate signed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist acknowledging the examination, then the public school or charter school where the child is registered shall report the child to the Department of Education.
A child who has had a comprehensive eye and vision examination conducted by an optometrist or ophthalmologist within six (6) months of an eye and vision screening is not required to have another examination if the parent or guardian of the child presents evidence of a comprehensive eye and vision examination in the form of a certificate signed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist acknowledging the examination.
Transfer students who have been screened in their previous school during the current school year do not have to be re-screened at the new school. Schools may request the transfer student’s vision screening from his/her school that was completed within the current school year.
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Hearing:
Arkansas Code 6-18-701 states that each school district shall employ a physician or nurse to make such physical examinations.
Guidelines for Screening:
- Grades K, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 & Transfer students
- Special education students & Teacher referrals
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Scoliosis:
Arkansas Act 41 of 1987 as amended by Act 95 of 1989.
Scoliosis Screening Rules and Regulations
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Guidelines for Screening:
Girls in grades six (6) and eight (8); Boys in grade eight (8) will receive a scoliosis screening. -
Notification of Screening
Parental notification shall be done at least seven days prior to screening. -
Exclusions to Screening
Act 41 of 1987 states that “no child shall be screened if its parent or guardian objects to the screening in writing stating as the basis of the objection that it is contrary to the parent’s or guardian’s religious beliefs."
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Guidelines for Screening:
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BMI: Arkansas Act 201 of 2007
BMI -- Arkansas Act 201 of 2007- In response to new state legislation (Act 201), BMI assessments will be conducted this year for all students in grades K, two, four, six, eight and ten. Parents who do not want a child to be assessed must notify the school in writing.
ARKids 1st
ARKids 1st Information: Web siteARKids 1st Application: English | Spanish
Influenza:
- Flu and Flu Vaccine Information:
Arkansas Web site related to Pandemic Flu: Web site
MRSA Information from the CDC:
MRSA Q&A siteSponsors:
SponsorsAll downloadable documents are in PDF format and require the free Adobe Acrobat reader to view. Please click here to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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