Health Services

Research has shown that students with an optimal level of wellness are more receptive to the learning process. Therefore, North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale health services staff strive to create an environment that promotes and supports student achievement, health, and well-being.

The primary goals of health services are to minimize or eliminate health-related barriers to learning and assist students to be self-sufficient in managing their health care within age-appropriate expectations. To accomplish this, health services staff, as part of the school team, strive to:

Promote student wellness
Provide skilled nursing services
Encourage healthy behaviors and self-care
Assess and communicate student health concerns through referral to parents/guardians

The model of health services in ISD 622 uses a combination of Licensed School Nurses (LSN), Public Health Nurses (PHN), Registered Nurses (RN), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN).

Health Services Supervisors are the LSN's who oversee the health services department. They are responsible for creating and reviewing health-related policies and procedures, quality assurance, staffing, and responding to crises.
PHN's are responsible for coordinating and managing the health needs of individual students during the school day as well as promoting health and safety for all students. They are also a part of the special education team and ensure appropriate accommodations for students with significant medical conditions.
RN's provide direct care in the health office for ill and injured students, support in coordinating and managing individual health needs, and promote health and safety for all students.
LPN's provide direct care in the health office for ill and injured students and carry out delegated nursing activities performed under RN supervision.

Alecia Gustafson

Health Services Supervisor

District Education Center (DEC)

School: 651-748-7466

Laura Lofgren

Health Services Supervisor

District Education Center (DEC)

School: 651-748-7557

Is My Child Well Enough To Go To School?

Many students and parents/guardians are frequently concerned about when students should stay home or attend school. The following information is intended to help with this decision.

General Guidelines

If the student:

Has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, the student should stay home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal (less than 100.4 degrees) without fever reducing medication.
Has vomited once or has had diarrhea two or more times, the student should stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
Has a rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with their healthcare provider before returning to school.

If the student is ill, please keep them home and notify the attendance line daily to report the illness. Please notify the School Nurse if your child has a contagious condition such as chicken pox, strep throat, whooping cough, or influenza.

Other Information

Remember, children ill with an infectious disease can spread the disease when in contact with others in the family and the community.

If you have any questions about the above information, please call your school nurse or healthcare provider.

Good hand washing stops the spread of many communicable diseases.

When students become ill at school, the school nurse will attempt to contact the parent/guardian first and then the name(s) listed as emergency contacts. It is important to keep the school up-to-date with any changes in telephone numbers.

Disease Specific Guidance

Disease	Signs/Symptoms	Incubation Period	Can My Student Go To School?	How Is It Spread?
Chickenpox	Fever and skin rash that comes in clusters. Rash begins on the chest, back, underarms, neck, and face. Rash turns to blisters and then scabs.	2 to 3 weeks	NO. Exclude from school until blisters have scabbed, usually about 6 days after rash appears. Notify School Nurse if diagnosed.	Very easily spread from person to person by direct contact with the blisters. Also spread through contact with mouth/nose secretions.
Cold Sores (herpes simplex)	Blisters that appear on the lips, face, and mouth. Sores usually crust and heal within a few days.	2 to 12 days	Yes. No exclusion necessary for mild sores in children who are in control of their mouth secretions.	Direct contact with the infected person’s saliva or sores.
COVID-19	Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, body aches, headaches, vomiting/diarrhea, or a new loss of taste or smell. Child may also be infected and have no symptoms.	2 to 14 days	Yes. No exclusion necessary unless fever is present (follow fever and general guidelines above). Must be able to participate in routine activities with symptoms.	By close contact with some who is infected, by breathing, coughing, and sneezing., by touching contaminated objects or surfaces
Croup	Runny nose, sore throat, mild cough, and fever. Several days later there may be a dry cough and hoarseness. Rapid breathing or making a noise when taking a breath may also occur. The cough may be worse at night.	Up to 10 days	Yes. No exclusion necessary unless fever is present. Must be able to participate in routine activities.	By coughing or sneezing. By touching contaminated hands, objects, or surfaces.
Fifth Disease	Rash on cheeks (looks like a slapped cheek). May spread to the arms and/or chest. Fever may be present.	4 to 14 days	Yes. No exclusion necessary unless fever is present.	Direct contact with infected mouth or nose secretions.
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease	Sores occur in the mouth, on palm of hands, fingers, and on soles of feet. Sores may last 7 to 10 days. A low grade fever may be present.	3 to 5 days	NO. Exclude until fever free for 24 hours.	Direct contact with mouth and nose secretions or stool of infected persons.
Head Lice	Itching of the scalp. Nits (lice eggs) and live lice can be found in the hair. Nits are attached to the hair near the scalp. Live lice are small, brown insects that move through the hair.	Nits hatch in 6 to 10 days. Re-infestation can occur if nits are not thoroughly treated or removed.	YES. No exclusion necessary. School nurses will work with families to determine if support is needed for treatment and will schedule rechecks in the health office as needed.	Direct contact with infested person’s hair, comb/brush, bedding, helmets, etc. Lice can live on objects such as jackets for 2 to 3 days.
Impetigo	Blister-like sores that form an oozing, yellow crust. It may itch.	1 to 10 days	NO. Exclude from school until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins and sores are drying.	Direct contact with infected mouth or nose secretions.
Influenza	Sudden onset of fever, headache, muscle pain, body aches, cough, and sore throat.	1 to 3 days	NO. Exclude from school until fever free for 24 hours and student is well enough to participate in normal activities.	Direct contact with mouth and nose secretions.
Measles	Fever, watery eyes, runny nose, cough, rash that starts on the face and then spreads down the body.	10 to 21 days	NO. Exclude from school until 4 days after the rash appears.	By coughing, sneezing or breathing tiny droplets and another person breathes them in or touching contaminated objects and then touching eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours
Mononucleosis	Fever, sore throat, tiredness, swollen glands in neck. A rash may be present.	4 to 6 weeks	To be determined by doctor. Must be fever free for 24 hours and able to participate in normal activities.	Direct contact with infected saliva. Often spread through kissing or sharing drinks.
Norovirus	Watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever lasting approximately 24-48 hours	10 to 50 hours	YES. Exclude from school until 24 hours after diarrhea and vomiting have stopped.	Direct contact with infected persons stool or contaminated object.
Pertussis (whooping cough)	Runny nose, sneezing, low grade fever which then turns into persistent cough and may sound like a high-pitched “whoop”. Cough attacks may lead to vomiting.	4 to 21 days	YES. Exclude from school until 5 days after appropriate antibiotic treatment begins OR if not treated 21 days after cough onset	By coughing or sneezing tiny droplets and another person breathes them in. By touching secretions of an infected person and then touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
Pink Eye (conjunctivitis)	Bacterial: pink/red irritated eye with pus or sticky drainage. Painful. Viral: pink/red eye with clear, watery discharge. May be painful.	1 to 3 days	Yes. No exclusion necessary unless the child has a fever or is not healthy enough to participate in routine activities.	Direct hand to eye contact.
Ringworm	Flat, ring-shaped rash that may be dry and scaly OR moist and crusty.	4 to 14 days	NO. Exclude from school until 24 hours after treatment begins. Area should be covered with clothing or a bandage while the student is in school.	Direct contact with infected person or contaminated objects/clothing.
Scabies	Rash with intense itching that is commonly found between fingers, around wrists, near elbows, and in armpits. Can be seen on knees, waistline, thighs, abdomen, chest, and buttocks. Worse at night.	2 to 6 weeks	NO. Exclude from school until 24 hours after treatment begins.	A mite is transferred by direct contact with skin or through shared bedding, towels, or clothing of an infected person.
Strep throat (scarlet fever)	Fever, sore throat, swollen glands, headache, nausea and/or vomiting. If you have a fine, raised rash with strep throat, it is called Scarlet Fever.	1 to 3 days	NO. Exclude from school until 12 hours after antibiotic treatment begins and student is fever free for 24 hours.	Direct contact with mouth and nose secretions.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)	Cough, watery eyes, fever, runny nose or stuffiness, or sneezing. Symptoms may last for 7 days. Severe RSV may wheeze and/or have lung congestion. RSV can be serious for premature babies and people with heart, lung, or immune system problems.	2 to 8 days	NO. Exclude from school until fever free for 24 hours and the student is well enough to participate in normal activities.	Coughing or sneezing, by touching contaminated hands, objects, or surfaces.

More to Explore

Health & Medication Forms

Immunizations

The Minnesota School Immunization Law (Minn. Statute 121A.15) requires that all students enrolled in school be protected from childhood diseases by receiving immunizations. Your child's immunization dates, or a medical or non-medical exemption, must be shared with the school health office by MEA break. In partnership with Odam Medical Group, vaccine clinics and mobile site visits will be scheduled each fall. If your student needs a childhood vaccine(s), please contact your school nurse for assistance. If the school does not have up-to-date records for your student, they will be withheld from school following MEA break until the appropriate documentation has been provided.

Are your kids ready? K-12

Free or Low-Cost Shots for Children

Ramsey County Immunization Clinic

Washington County Immunization Clinic

530-Immunization Requirements

Rationale: District 622 - North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school recognizes that the purpose of this policy is to require that all students receive the proper immunizations as mandated by law to ensure the health and safety of all students.

Dental Care

The dental care serves families throughout the east metro area. Information is available in several languages. Please call 612-746-1530 for information regarding dental services.

Low-Cost Dental Clinics

Give Kids a Smile is a charitable outreach program that provides free dental care to underserved children (typically ages 3-18). Dental clinics throughout the state volunteer to provide these services during Children’s Dental Health Month.

Free and Low-Cost Health Insurance

Health Topics

Allergies & Asthma

Diabetes

Handwashing

Germstoppers (CDC)
Be A Germ Buster (poster)
Wash Your Hands - 18 languages (poster)
Stop Germs Stay Healthy Wash Your Hands (poster)
When Should I Wash My Hands (poster)

Head Lice

Influenza

Minnesota Department of Health
Immunization Action Coalition
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Germstoppers (CDC)
What is the difference between a cold and flu? (CDC)
Cover Your Cough (MDH poster in English, also comes in 20 other languages)

Nutrition

Physical Activity

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Physical Activity
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans - US Dept of Health and Human Services
What is Physical Activity - National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Seizures

School/Program Contact Information

Beaver Lake

Health Office 651-702-8451

Carver Elementary

Health Office 651-702-8215

Castle Elementary

Health Office 651-748-6715

Cowern Elementary

Health Office 651-748-6815

Eagle Point Elementary

Health Office 651-702-8315

Gladstone

Health Office 651-748-7249

John Glenn Middle

Health Office 651-748-6315

Justice Alan Page Elementary

Health Office 651-748-6615

The Next Step Program

Health Office 651-621-1915

Non-Public Schools

Hill Murray
651-748-2431
Mounds Park Academy
651-748-5509

North High

Health Office 651-748-6015

Richardson Elementary

Health Office 651-748-6915

Skyview Middle

Health Office 651-702-8015

Tartan High

Health Office 651-702-8615

Weaver Elementary

Health Office 651-748-7015

Webster Learning Center

Health Office 651-748-7100

Join Our Team!

Are you passionate about shaping young minds and making a positive impact on students? Join our team at ISD622 and become an integral part of our mission to develop and empower lifelong learners who thrive in diverse communities.

We are eagerly seeking dedicated individuals to join our diverse team of educators, administrators, and support staff. With a commitment to excellence and a collaborative environment, we offer fulfilling career opportunities that allow you to inspire the next generation. Explore our hiring page and embark on an exciting journey with us today!

APPLY TODAY