Health Services

Welcome to Health Services

Although the health of a school-age child is the primary responsibility of the parent, the Health Services staff is on each school’s campus to assist each and every student with health care as needed throughout the school day. It is the aim of Health Services to provide a complete health services program which includes a healthy school environment, school health services and health education emphasizing the improvement of the health status of all students. Feel free to contact us if we may be of assistance to you.

Students entering kindergarten or students entering from out of the country, must present an up-to-date FL form 680 immunization record and a physical within the last year to start school.

Each child who is entitled to admittance to kindergarten or is entitled to any other initial entrance into a public school in the District must have a certification of a school-entry health examination performed within one (1) year before enrollment in school.

Students transferring into the District from a school within the State of Florida who have completed physical examination form as part of their school record need not be re-examined. Examinations taken out-of-state may be accepted if performed within one (1) year of entry and include documentation and reported on the official forms of the physician.

A student shall have up to thirty (30) school days to present a certification of a school-entry health examination. Children and youths who are experiencing homelessness and children who are known to the Department as homeless, as defined in F.S. 39.0016, shall be given a temporary exemption for thirty (30) school days.

Information about School Nurses

The School District of Indian River County employs a School Nurse for each school campus who works under the direction of a Registered Nurse. The School Nurse works to serve the students’ health needs during school hours. Health room services include the following:

  • Health room access for illnesses occurring at school/ First aid for injuries
  • Assistance with medications
  • State mandated health screening

If your child has a special health need, it is best to discuss it with the School Nurse on campus. An individualized health plan or emergency plan, developed by a Registered Nurse, may be needed.

The School Nurse's primary responsibility at the school is to take care of the students. Some of their other responsibilities include:

  • Teaching staff about student needs
  • Gathering health information on students
  • Calling parents
  • Updating health records for students
  • Making decisions in emergencies

The health rooms are not to be used for the treatments of illnesses/injuries that happened off school property. The School Nurse cannot make a diagnosis or suggest that symptoms might be due to a certain disease. Please contact your healthcare provider to obtain a diagnosis for your child’s condition.

Department of Health/Contract Providers 

The Indian River County Health Department provides 3 Registered Nurses who work full-time and are currently assigned to various schools. They assist the district Health Services Coordinator and Assistant Health Services Coordinator with providing support to School Nurses. Registered school nurses develop Individual Care Plans, and emergency action plans based on physician orders and with parent consultation for certain students. 

School Nurse Contacts

 School  Contact  Phone Number
IR Prep (Main) Amanda Acker, LPN  772-564-6247
Beachland Elementary Mineka Johnson, LPN  772-564-3348
Citrus Elementary  Patricia Bailey, RN
 772-978-8352
Dodgertown Elementary Tina McDonnell, RN  772-564-4105
Fellsmere Elementary Dale Chalmers, RN  772-564-5973
Freshman Learning Center Pamela Calciano, RN  772-564-5712
Gifford Middle TBD  772-564-3570
Glendale Elementary Danielle Eury, LPN  772-978-8053
Indian River Academy Nellyanna Lang, LPN  772-564-3398
Liberty Magnet Jessica Lyda LPN  772-564-5302
Osceola Magnet Kylie Hiers, LPN  772-564-5826
Oslo Middle Julie Fils-Aime, RN  772-564-4025
Pelican Island Elementary Barbara Campbell, LPN  772-564-6499
Rosewood Magnet Lynn Whitt, RN  772-564-3886
Sebastian Elementary Darlene Marinelli, RN  772-978-8259
Sebastian River Middle Jennifer Schoepf, RN  772-564-5198
Sebastian River High  TBD  772-564-4282
Storm Grove Middle Sandra Summerlin, RN  772-564-6338
Treasure Coast Elementary Carolyn Margis, RN  772-978-8502
Vero Beach Elementary Liza Colon, RN  772-564-4554
Vero Beach High Jeffrey Forbus, RN  772-564-5525
Wabasso School Deborah Schmidt, RN  772-978-8005

Health Policies

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION SCHOOL HEALTH/WELLNESS FORM

Every student is required to have a School Health/Wellness Form (Spanish) in the health room (previously referred to as the Emergency Card or Emergency Form) this form not only includes emergency contact information but also includes important health information such as allergies and current medical diagnosis and conditions, along with the name of their health care provider. This form gives parental permission to share personal health information in cases of health and safety emergencies.

ILLNESSES

Sick children should not be sent to school. Students should have no vomiting and be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication before being sent back to school after an illness. If a student becomes sick at school, a call will be made to the parent or guardian to come pick up the student.

FIRST AID & EMERGENCIES

All parents/guardians are responsible for updating their information with the school in case of a move or change in phone number. If the phone number is wrong in the school’s database, school personnel will not be able to notify the parent/guardian in case of an emergency. In case of a serious accident or emergency, emergency services will be called and the school personnel will call the other numbers on the student’s contact list to try to get in touch with the parents/guardians.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL

Florida Stature 1003.22 requires a physical exam and grade-specific immunization in order to attend schools in Florida. Temporary medical or permanent medical exemptions must be authorized by a medical provider on the required form. Religious exemptions can only be issued from the Health Department. A student will be excluded from school until compliance to these requirements are met.

Indian River County has a No-Nit policy concerning lice. Student are not permitted to remain in school with evidence of live lice or nits.

Children who are suspected of having a contagious disease will be excluded from school until a physician or medical practitioner has evaluated them. The student must bring a note from the medical practitioner when they return to school.

STATE MANDATED HEALTH SCREENINGS

  • Kindergarten – vision/hearing
  • First – vision/hearing/BMI(growth and development)
  • Third – vision/BMI(growth and development)
  • Sixth – vision/hearing/BMI/scoliosis

School personnel may recommend additional screenings. Participation in the mandated health screenings is voluntary. However, it is School District policy to only exclude a student if a written notice is received from the parent/guardian prior to the screening day. Parents/guardians whose student has failed a mandated screening will be notified of the results. It is the parent’s responsibility to have the child seen by the appropriate practitioner after being notified by the school of a failed screening.

STUDENTS WITH MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

Parents/guardians must talk with the Health Assistant when their child will be taking any medication at school. Parents/guardians can pick-up a Medication Procedures For Parents Handbook (in Spanish) in the health room. The Parent Handbook has all the necessary forms that need to be completed before accepting your child’s medications. Your school’s Health Assistant will gladly review the Handbook with you and assist with answering any questions you may have. This Parent Handbook details the medication policies and procedures. The Parent Handbook may also be found on the SDIRC website under “Health Services”.

Every medication must have a doctor’s order and a Medication Permission Slip properly filled out in the health room. Medications must be in their original container, properly labeled and not expired. Student medications are given on campus only when the dosing schedule requires it to be given during school hours. No student shall have possession of, or consume any medication during school without these protocols being followed. The only exceptions are emergency inhalers, epinephrine auto-injectors, pancreatic enzymes, and/or diabetic monitoring/treatment supplies and medication when prescribed by a physician. These may be carried by a student if the student has a physician’s order for the medication and the “Permission to Carry” form has been properly filled out and is on file in the health room.

Physician Authorization for Daily Medication
Physician Authorization for As Needed or Emergency Medication

Student & Family Resources

Health Services Document Library

Below are links to DOH Zika Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
 

For a complete list of resources, visit SpillTheWater.com. To learn more about mosquito-borne illnesses in Florida, visit FloridaHealth.gov

Florida Kid Care
www.Floridakidcare.org

Florida KidCare offers healthcare coverage for children under age 19 who qualify. Children with health insurance miss fewer days of school, and applying for Florida KidCare is easy. Any family can apply, and many pay $20 or less per month to insure their children. Most pay nothing at all.

Nutritional Resources 

IRC Lets Go!
 http://www.healthyindianriver.com/ 

Health Services Document Library


Communicable Diseases

Health Services Information

Immunizations

Medications

Required Forms

Contacts

Health Services Coordinator 

   Victoria Burney, R.N.
   772-564-5940


Assistant Health Services Coordinator 

   Robin Huber, R.N.
   772-564-5947