Rising seasonal illnesses prompts school officials to remind families when to keep children home

School officials are reminding families that regular school attendance is essential to student learning and well-being, while also emphasizing the importance of keeping students home when they are ill.

With the rise of the flu and other illnesses during the winter season, officials have outlined guidelines on when it is and not acceptable to keep your child home from school.

Officials have published the following health guidelines, developed with input from school health professionals to help parents make their decision.

When Students May Attend School

According to the district’s guidance, students may attend school if they:

• Have a runny nose or mild cough without other symptoms
• Have not had a fever overnight and have not taken fever-reducing medication
• Have a mild stomachache
• Have not vomited overnight and are able to drink liquids
• Have a mild rash with no additional symptoms
• Have eye drainage without fever, eye pain, or eyelid redness

When Students Should Stay Home

The district advises families to keep students home if they:

• Have a temperature higher than 100.4°F
• Have vomited two or more times in the past 24 hours
• Have watery stool and may not be able to reach the bathroom in time
• Keeping ill students home supports recovery and helps reduce the spread of illness within schools.

When Medical Care Is Recommended

Families are encouraged to seek medical care if a student:

• Has a temperature higher than 100.4°F along with ear pain, sore throat, rash, stomachache, headache, or tooth pain
• Has stomach pain with fever, bloody or black stools, signs of dehydration (such as fatigue, sleepiness, dry mouth), or has not urinated within the last eight hours
• Has a persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or a fever accompanied by a cough
• Has eye swelling, eye pain, or an eye injury
• Has a rash that is blistering, draining, painful, appears bruised, and/or is accompanied by fever

Additional Guidance for Families

School officials encourage families who are unsure whether a child should attend school, or who have concerns about a child’s physical or mental health, to contact their child’s health care provider, a local urgent care center, or the school nurse.