Health or Nursing Services

Mission:

The mission of the LUESD Health Services Department is to provide holistic health related services to all students in order to improve student attendance, minimize health related barriers to learning, and to provide the link between health and education through collaboration with students, staff, families, and the community.

The Health Services Team is comprised of 2 School Nurses (RNs) and 8 Site Nurses (LVNs)

Stephanie Martin, RN, BSN, PHN

multiple sites and district duties

559-924-6803

smartin@myluesd.net

Jeanette Clodfelter, RN, BSN, PHN

multiple sites

559-924-6887

jclodfelter@myluesd.net

Alma Avina, LVN

Cinnamon Elementary

aavina@myluesd.net

Madison Novoa, LVN

Meadow Lane Elementary

mnovoa@myluesd.net

Claudia Lopez, LVN

Engvall Elementary

clopez1@myluesd.net

Melissa Perez, LVN

University Charter School

mperez@myluesd.net

Erica Loza, LVN

Lemoore Elementary

eloza@myluesd.net

Maria Serna, LVN

Liberty Middle School

mserna@myluesd.net

Kim Moench, LVN

kmoench@myluesd.net

Kathy Tafoya, LVN

Freedom Elementary

ktafoya@myluesd.net

Information

Please review the Health Section in your Parent/Student Handbook for most district, health-related protocols.

Concussions:

Students can sustain a concussion through various injuries or accidents.  It doesn't always occur during an athletic event. At LUESD, all coaches will be trained on concussions and all students and student parents participating in the athletic program will read and sign this form as part of the athletic program packet per CA Education Code 49475.

All students riding a bicycyle, scooter, skateboard, or other similar device to school must abide by the  CA State helmet law.  Here is some helpful information regarding bicycle helmet use and safety.  

Diabetes Information, Type 1:

LUESD provides this information on type 1 diabetes to parents/guardians of incoming elementary students during the enrollment process as required by CA Education Code 49452.6.

Diabetes Information, Type 2:

LUESD provides this information on type 2 diabetes to parents/guardians of incoming 7th graders during the enrollment process as required by CA Education Code 49452.7.

Food Allergy Policy:

If your child has a food allergy, please complete the following form in English or Spanish. If your child requires certain foods to be avoided, it is required that the Medical Statement to Request Special Meals and/or Accommodations be completed by a healthcare provider and turned in to the school site.

If your child only needs a liquid millk substitution, the parent/guardian may complete this form and turn it in to the school site.

Health Physical:

LUESD recommends that Kinder or 1st grade students complete the following physical or waiver by the 90th day of 1st grade and turn in the completed form to their school site.

Heat Information:

When our temperatures are extremely high, it is important to encourage your child to drink lots of water, have access to air conditioning, rest in the shade when possible, wear loose, lightweight clothing, and limit direct sun as much as possible. It may also be necessary to limit outdoor activity during extreme temperatures.

LUESD receives communication from our local health department and receives guidance from CDPH during extreme heat conditions.

Here is a link to the NWS Heat Risk Prototype Forecast.

Immunizations:

Here are the current school aged immunization requirements for admission to CA schools. To receive a medical exemption for immunizations, please follow these instructions to request a medical exemption. The CA Dept of Public Health Immunization Branch has more information on their website. If you have questions, call your school site LVN.

By law, schools are required to collect vaccines information, monitor immunizations, and enforce vaccine requirements for school. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) annually audits school districts immunization rates and records. 

HPV:

Additionally, the California Health and Safety Code was modified with the recent passing of AB 659 which requires school districts to provide information on the HPV vaccination. This bill recommends that students are fully immunized against human papillomavirus (HPV) before admission or advancement to the eighth-grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school.

CDC link to information about cancers linked to HPV. Given that 10% of 13 year olds are infected with HPV, many advisory committees recommend that children ages 11–12 years should get two doses of HPV vaccine, given 6 to 12 months apart. HPV vaccines can be given starting at age 9 years. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.

Lice Policy:

If a student is found with live lice, they shall be allowed to stay in school until the end of the school day. The parent will be given information about the treatment of head lice and informed that the student will be checked upon return to school the next day and allowed to remain in school if no live lice are detected. The full LUESD Lice Policy is linked here.

Medi-Cal Coverage and Providers:

Here is a list of Kings County Medi-Cal primary care, dental, ophthamologist, and optometry providers.

There are many resources to assist families in enrolling or renewing for Medi-Cal:

  1. All In Health Care For All Families

  2. 211 Kings County

  3. Catholic Charities Medi-Cal Outreach assists Kings County families understand and navigate the application process for Medi-Cal. Contact Alicia Valencia at aavelencia@ccdof.org or 559-237-0851 for more information.

  4. BenefitsCal

  5. Our local health department's CHDP program or CCS services.

Medication at School:

If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication to be taken at school, please read the handbook policy and call your school site LVN as there are requirements to follow. Here is the Medication Administration Form that will need to be completed by your child's medical provider.

Oral Health:

Smile, California is a great resource to help families learn about their dental coverage through Medi-Cal.

LUESD recommends all Kinder students at enrollment with Oral Health information. We encourage all Kinder parents to complete this form in English or Spanish and turn it in to their school site.

The following resources may help you find a dentist and complete the Oral Health Assessment Form for your child:

1. Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal’s toll-free number or Web site can help you to find a dentist who takes Denti-Cal: 1-800-322-6384; http://www.denti-cal.ca.gov. For help enrolling your child in Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal, contact your local social service agency.

2. Healthy Families’ toll-free number or Web site can help you to find a dentist who takes Healthy Families insurance or to find out if your child can enroll in the program: 1-800- 880-5305 or http://www.benefitscal.com/.

3. For additional resources that may be helpful, contact your local public health department toll free at 1 (877) 410-8813.

Pregnant, Married, or Parenting Students:

Puberty:

Pupils in 5th grade will have the opportunity to participate in a growth and development class taught by the school nurses. LUESD will send a Parent Square Notification at least 14 days before the instruction is provided. You can opt your child out of this presentation by calling your child's school site and telling the site nurse.

The following are the boys and girls puberty lessons and a link to the video that is shown during the presentation:

Boys Growth & Development Presentation and Video

Girls Growth & Development Presentation and Video

Sex Ed:

The components of the California Healthy Youth Act, also known as sex ed or comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, are required to be taught once in middle school and once in high school. If you do not want your middle schooler to participate in this comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, you may exclude your student from this education by providing a written request to the office at your child’s school site. The required content of this education is outlined in CA Education Codes 51930-51939. LUESD provides this requirement over 3 class periods during 7th grade taught by our credentialed school nurses. LUESD will send a Parent Square Notification at least 14 days before the instruction is provided.

The following are the 3 lessons taught to fulfill the requirements of sex ed (please note that there are anatomical pictures of human bodies in these slide decks and the reproducing, sharing, posting, or publishing of these slide decks are strictly prohibited):

  1. Day 1 Slide Deck

  2. Day 2 Slide Deck

  3. Day 3 Slide Deck

  4. SDC Slide Deck

If you have any questions about this requirement, please call the credentialed school nurses.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest:

Sudden Cadiac Arrest (SCA) is caused by a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system that abruptly halts the heartbeat. These malfunctions are most often caused by an arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat, or a structural problem. A variety of heart conditions can be congenital (present at birth) or can grow over time. Some conditions are hereditary, which is why knowing your extended family’s heart history is an important inclusion in your child’s medical record. At LUESD, all coaches will be trained on SCA and all students and student parents participating in the athletic program will read and sign this form as part of the athletic program packet per CA Education Code 33479.