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Revised Illness Policy 2020-2021

Children with colds, viruses, and/or other communicable illnesses will remain out of school until they are fully recovered and/or cleared by a Healthcare Provider (HCP). Common signs/symptoms are noted below (please note, this is not an exhaustive list):

*If a child's baseline health assessment includes anything that can be viewed as a sign and/or symptom of illness, we request a note from an HCP. The HCP note must state that the sign and/or symptom is present at the child's baseline health assessment and that they are safe and cleared to attend school. (Example: persistent symptoms of allergies.)


Generalized: Temperature of 100.0F or above; persistent complaints of not feeling well; body aches; fatigue; headache unrelieved by rest or water; other symptoms not relieved by standard nursing care.

Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat: Persistent sneezing; sore throat unrelieved by water; throat redness or swelling
Consistent discolored drainage, mucus, discharge, redness (unrelated to seasonal allergies) from eyes, ears, and/or nose.

Respiratory: Persistent or new onset of cough; shortness of breath; difficulty breathing; wheezing noted upon auscultation of lungs, etc.

Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary: two or more watery stools; vomiting unrelated to food intake or motion sickness; persistent stomach pain; persistent cramping, etc.; pain with urination

Skin: rash of unknown origin; oozing or weeping rash; or rash consistent with signs of contagious skin illness (Example: ringworm)

If a child begins to exhibit signs and/or symptoms of illness or feel unwell during school day, a School Nurse will contact the parents/guardians immediately, to inform them about the child needing to be picked up. The child will wait in a designated isolation area (with an adult) prior to pick up. The expectation is that an adult should be available to pick a child within one (1) hour of a sick call. 

After being sent home from school, a child may return the following day only if: 

  1. They are cleared by an MD/NP; OR 

  2. They had a low grade fever below 100.4F and/or one (1) symptom prior to 10am, and did not have a fever or a continuation of the symptom for the rest of the day 

After staying or being sent home for an illness, a child may return to school once: 

  1. They have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications (tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.)

  2. Their symptoms have been absent for 24 hours

    1. If they are receiving antibiotic treatment, they may return 24 hours after the first dose

    2. If they have been vomiting or have had diarrhea, they must additionally have been able to tolerate normal activity and tolerate their regular diet 

A child will need a note from an MD/NP to return to school if: 

  1. They have been out of school for two (2) consecutive school days due to illness (the day they were sent home is NOT counted as a day) 

  2. Their symptoms were consistent with a known illness (ex: red, swollen throat with a fever will require a negative strep test) 

  3. They were sent home two (2) consecutive days (ex: a student is sent home on Monday morning with symptoms; the symptoms resolve at home; the student returns Tuesday morning, but starts having symptoms and is sent home again.)

  4. They had one (1) or more of the core symptoms of COVID-19 (as determined by DOH): temperature of 100.4F or higher; new onset cough; shortness of breath; new loss of taste or smell. 

COVID-19 Specific Policies

COVID-19 presents with a wide variety of symptoms (or with no symptoms at all). COVID-19 testing for all students who are ill is not mandatory, and only an MD/NP can determine the need for testing. 

GBS will ask that a student be seen by an MD/NP to determine the need for COVID-19 testing if:

  1. The student exhibits one or more core COVID-19 symptoms, defined by the NY Department of Health as: fever (100.4F or higher); new onset cough; shortness of breath; and/or new loss of taste or smell. 

  2. Someone in the student’s household has tested positive for COVID-19 

  3. A student exhibits any symptoms of illness after recent travel to areas where COVID-19 transmission is high 

A student diagnosed with COVID-19 (regardless of symptoms) may return to school when: 

  1. They have documentation of a negative COVID-19 test, AND

  2. They are cleared to return by an MD/NP and/or the Department of Health