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Lodi Unified School District

Policy 5141.22 - Infectious Diseases

Series: 5000 - Students

Policy: 5141.22 - Infections Diseases

Adopted: 12/03/1985

Last Revised: 03/10/2026

Last Reviewed: 03/10/2026

Download Policy 5141.22 - Infections Diseases PDF (English)

Download Rule 5141.22 - Infections Diseases PDF (English)

Infectious Diseases

The Board of Education desires to protect students from risks posed by infectious diseases while providing a high-quality education for all students. The district requires all staff to routinely observe universal precautions to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens and prevent the spread of all infectious disease. 
 
The admission of a student with a disease that is contagious within the school setting shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee in accordance with standard procedures.  The district shall exclude students only in accordance with law.
 
Infectious Disease Prevention
The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with parents/guardians and local health agencies and organizations to develop a comprehensive approach to disease prevention that promotes preventative measures and education of students and staff.
 
The Superintendent or designee shall regularly review resources available from health experts to ensure that district programs are based on the most up-to-date information.
 
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the district’s comprehensive health education program provides information about the prevention of infectious disease, including the nature of bloodborne pathogens and their transmission, as well as information to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases, such as pandemic influenza.  The Superintendent or designee shall also ensure that each school has sufficient infection prevention supplies that are easily accessible to staff.
 
If the local health officer notifies the district of an outbreak of a communicable disease, or the imminent and proximate threat of a communicable disease outbreak or epidemic that threatens the public’s health, the district shall take appropriate action the health officer deems necessary to control the spread of the disease.  The district shall comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws regarding any such information received from the local health officer.
 
Students with Infectious Diseases
The Superintendent or designee shall exclude students from on-campus instruction only in accordance with law, Board policy and rule.  Because bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are not casually transmitted, the presence of infectious conditions of this type is not, by itself, sufficient reason to exclude students from attending school.
 
Parents/guardians are encouraged to inform the Superintendent or designee if their child has an infectious disease so that school staff may work cooperatively with the student’s parents/guardians to minimize exposure to other diseases in the school setting. 
 
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that student confidentiality rights are strictly observed in accordance with law.
 

Rule 5141.22

Adopted: 16/02/1998

Last Revised: 03/10/2026

Last Reviewed: 03/10/2026

Prevention & Mitigation Plan
The Superintendent or designee shall work with the state and local health officials to develop a plan to prevent and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases.  Components of the plan may include, but are not limited to:
 
  1. A communication strategy for informing students, parents/guardians, staff and the community about the disease(s), including symptoms, complications, transmission and current recommendations from state and local departments of public health
  2. Protocol for assessing when campus closures are necessary and when campus(es) may reopen
  3. Alternative means of instruction, schedules, and attendance, including provision of instruction to student with disabilities, English learners, and foster or homeless youth in the event of campus closures or partial closures
  4. Guidelines regarding required preventative measures such as personal protective equipment, temperature checks, and/or other health screening allowed by law
  5. Protocols regarding the acquisition and provision of personal protective equipment and other supplies
  6. Protocols for cancellation or alteration of extracurricular activities and field trips
  7. Protocols for transportation of students using district vehicles
  8. Provisions for continuing free and reduced-price meal services
  9. Guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing of the district facilities and equipment
  10. Protocols for visitors and outside groups that utilize district facilities
  11. Staff training
The Superintendent or designee shall report to the local health officer the presence or suspected presence of any communicable disease.
 

Legal References

Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Board to enact this policy.  Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
 
STATE
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
17 CCR 2500-2511 Communicable disease reporting requirements
8 CCR 5193 Bloodborne pathogens
CA CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1, SECTION 1
Right to Privacy
CIVIL CODE
1798-1798.78 Information Practices Act
56-56.37 Confidentiality of medical information
EDUCATION CODE
48210-48216 Persons excluded
49060-49069.7 Student records
49073-49079 Privacy of student records
49403 Cooperation in control of communicable disease and immunizations
49405 Smallpox control
49406 TB risk assessment
49408 Student emergency information
49602 Counseling and confidentiality of student information
51202 Instruction in personal and public health and safety
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE
120175.5 Local health officers and communicable diseases
120230 Exclusion for communicable disease
120325-120380 Immunization against communicable diseases
120875-120895 AIDS information
120975-121023 Mandated blood testing and confidentiality to protect public health
121475-121520 Tuberculosis tests for students
FEDERAL
UNITED STATES CODES
20 USC 1232g Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974
20 USC 1400-1482 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
29 USC 794 Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Section 504
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
45 CFR 164.500-164.534 Privacy of individually identifiable health information
MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATION
Science Safety Handbook for California Public Schools, 2014
COURT DECISION
Thomas v. Atascadero Unified School District (1986) 662 F.Supp. 376
U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES PUBLICATION
School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
WEBSITES
CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services https://legalservices.csba.org/#
California Department of Education  http://www.cde.ca.gov/
California Department of Public Health http://www.cdph.ca.gov/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/