Agenda Item
4. First Read: Amendment to Board Policy JGCD: Medication
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Melanie Slaton, Esq., General Counsel, Hall Booth Smith, PC.
Mr. Aaron D. Webb, Esq., Attorney, Hall Booth Smith, PC.
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education accept the amendment to Board Policy JGCD: Medication to make updates related to the administration of emergency mediations.
Why: Board Policy JGCD: Medication requires amendments in order to be consistent with the current state of law in Georgia.
Details: With the influx of opioids, it has become necessary to make emergency plans for how to save lives in the event of medical emergencies due to drug overdose and perceived medical emergencies in other health care situations. Policy JGCD: Medication needs to be updated in order to enable DCSD to administer Naloxone (Narcan) in emergency situations and perceived emergency situations pursuant to a Standing Order issued by the Georgia Commissioner of Health.
Financial impact: There is no financial impact to the District
Contact: Ms. Melanie Slaton, Esq., General Counsel, Hall Booth Smith, PC., 404.954.5000
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Approved by General Counsel
REDLINED EDITS
Board Policy JGCD: Medication
Original Adopted Date 01/01/1990
Last Revised Date: 06/13/2011
Last Reviewed Date: 06/13/2011
Medicafion
The health of a child is an important factor in the learning process. Cooperafion among the health
department, the private medical sector, the home, and the school is essenfial. In general, the
administrafion of medicafion to students while in the schools is to be avoided. Treatment schedules
which allow doses to be given at fimes other than during school hours are preferred and
encouraged. Upon direcfion by a student’s physician, however, a parent or guardian may request that
medicafion be administered to a student during school hours. When cerfified health personnel are
unavailable, the principal must arrange for the administrafion of the medicafion(s) according to the
physician’s wriften direcfive. The principal, with the advice of DeKalb County Schools Student Health
Services, will be responsible for the establishment of a safe method of storage for medicafion(s).
The term “medicafion” shall mean all legal substances including but not limited to prescripfion drugs,
over-the-counter drugs, inhalants, pills, tablets, capsules, liquids, “natural remedies,” herbs, vitamins,
dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines, and all other legal drugs. Any student required to take
medicafion while at school will follow the procedures of this policy and the accompanying regulafion,
JGCD-R, as well as any procedures designated by the relevant school administrator.
Medicafions must be administered by the appropriate personnel, and students generally are prohibited
from carrying and self-administering medicafions. In accordance with state law, however, a student may
carry asthma medicafion, auto-injectable epinephrine, and insulin upon wriften authorizafion by the
student’s physician and wriften consent of the student’s parent or guardian. Students carrying auto-
injectable epinephrine or insulin shall be instructed in the proper use of such medicafion and must
cerfify that they will not allow other students to use such medicafion under any circumstances, subject
to revocafion of the privilege to carry such medicafion. Except in the case of willful or wanton
misconduct, neither the District nor any of its agents or employees shall incur any liability for injury to a
student caused by the student’s self-administrafion of asthma medicafion or auto-injectable epinephrine
Also in accordance with state law, school personnel shall be authorized to administer auto-injectable
epinephrine, when it is available, to a student upon the occurrence of an actual or perceived
anaphylacfic adverse reacfion by a student, whether or not such student has a prescripfion for
epinephrine. Student Health Services shall ensure that school personnel are given informafion on how
to recognize the symptoms of anaphylacfic shock and the correct method of administering auto-
injectable epinephrine. Except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct, no District or school
personnel who in good faith administers or chooses not to administer epinephrine to a student under
this policy shall incur any civil liability for any such act or omission.
Also in accordance with state law, school personnel shall be authorized to administer
albuterol/levalbuterol, auto-injectable epinephrine and narcan when it is available, to a student
upon the occurrence of an actual or perceived breathing emergency, anaphylacfic adverse reacfion
or a perceived opioid overdose by a student, whether or not such student has a prescripfion for
albuterol/levalbuterol, epinephrine. or narcan. Student Health Services shall ensure that school
personnel are given informafion on how to recognize the symptoms of breathing emergencies,
anaphylacfic shock, and a perceived opioid overdose. Student Health Services shall ensure that
school personnel are given informafion on how to correctly administer albuterol/levalbuterol, auto-
injectable epinephrine and narcan. Except in the case of willful or wanton misconduct, no District or
school personnel who in good faith administers or chooses not to administer epinephrine to a
student under this policy shall incur any civil liability for any such act or omission.