Employees with a communicable disease will be allowed to perform their customary employment duties provided they are able to perform the essential functions of their position and their presence does not create a direct threat and/or a substantial risk of illness or transmission to students or other employees. The term “communicable disease” will mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law. A “direct threat” occurs when an individual poses a significant risk of substantial harm to him/herself or others, and the risk cannot be reduced below the direct threat level through reasonable accommodations.
Prevention and control of communicable diseases is included in the school district’s bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan. The procedures will include scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance, universal precautions, vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, follow-up, communication of hazards to employees and record keeping. This plan is reviewed annually by the superintendent and school nurse.
An employee shall notify the superintendent or the school nurse when the employee learns a communicable disease exists. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, when the superintendent or school nurse, upon investigation, has knowledge that a reportable communicable disease is present, to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health.
The health risk to immunoexpressed employees is determined by their personal physician. The health risk to others in the school district environment from the presence of an employee with a communicable disease is determined on a case-by-case basis by the employee’s personal physician, a physician chosen by the school district or public health officials.
Health data of an employee is confidential, and it will not be disclosed to third parties. Employee medical records are kept in a file separate from their personal file.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the school nurse, to develop administrative regulations stating the procedures for dealing with employees with a communicable disease.
Approved: July 25, 2018
Reviewed: May 23, 2022
Revised: May 23, 2022
