Medical Examinations
Through its overall safety program and various policies pertaining to school personnel, the Board shall promote the safety of employees during working hours and assist them in the maintenance of good health. It shall encourage all its employees to maintain optimum health through the practice of good health habits.
Under the circumstances defined below, the Board may require physical examinations of its employees. Results of such physical examinations shall be maintained in separate medical files and not in the employee's personnel file and may be released only as permitted by law.
Physical Examinations
If the work is of a physically demanding nature, subsequent to a conditional offer of employment and prior to a commencement of work, the District may require an applicant to have a medical examination and to meet any other health requirements that may be imposed by the State. The District may condition an offer of employment on the results of such examination, if all entering employees in the applicable job category are subject to such examination. If approved by the superintendent, a thirty-(30)-day grace period beginning from the date of employment may be allowed for the employee to obtain the required medical examination. The cost of the medical examination shall be the district's responsibility.
All bus drivers, including full-time, regular part-time or temporary part-time drivers, and driver education teachers shall be required to have a satisfactory medical examination prior to employment.
Contagious or Infectious Diseases
If a staff person has a contagious or infectious disease that may be dangerous for an individual with an immune compromised health issue, the staff person must notify, within 48 hours of their knowledge of their condition, the personnel office that he has a contagious or infectious disease which could be life threatening to an immune compromised person. The superintendent or other designated person must determine, after consultation with and on the advice of public health, if the immune compromised person needs appropriate accommodation to protect their health and safety.
An employee with a contagious or infectious disease shall not report to work during the period of time in which the employee is infectious. An employee afflicted with a contagious or infectious disease capable of being readily transmitted in the school setting (e.g., airborne transmission of tuberculosis) shall be encouraged to report the existence of the illness in case there are precautions that must be taken to protect the health of others. The District reserves the right to require a statement from the employee’s primary care provider prior to the employee's return to work.
Confidentiality
In all instances, District personnel shall respect the individual’s right to privacy and treat any medical diagnosis as confidential information. Any information obtained regarding the medical condition or history of any employee shall be collected and maintained on separate forms and in separate medical files and be treated as confidential information. Only those individuals with a legitimate need to know (i.e., those persons with a direct responsibility for the care of or for determining work place accommodation for the staff person) will be provided with necessary medical information. Supervisors and managers may be informed of the necessary restrictions on the work or duties of the employee and necessary accommodations. First aid and safety personnel may be informed, when appropriate, if the disability might require emergency treatment.
Legal Reference:
29 U.S.C. 794, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 29 CFR, Section 1630.14(c) (1) (2) (3);
41 U.S.C. 12101, et seq. Americans with Disabilities Act
Policy History:
Adopted on: Nov. 21, 2003
Revised on: