Health Services

All students who enroll in Scarborough Public Schools are required by law to present a certificate of immunization or evidence of immunization or immunity against poliomyelitis; diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus; measles, mumps, rubella; and varicella (chicken pox).  Students entering grades 7 and 12 must also receive the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). Some exceptions to immunization requirements may apply. 

Starting on 09/01/2021, religious and philosophical exemptions will no longer be an option as an exception to immunization requirements. Medical exemptions will continue to be allowed, and there is an exception for those students with an Individualized Education Plan and either philosophical or religious exemption that is in place prior to September 1, 2021.

To comply with immunization law, starting on 9/1/2021, students need one of the following in place to enroll in school or to attend school/school activities:

• A copy of the complete immunization record on file.
• Medical Exemption:  The parent/guardian provides a written statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant that, in that individual’s professional judgment, immunization against one or more diseases may be medically inadvisable.
• Immunization Exemption:  A student covered by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) on September 1, 2021, who had an exemption based on sincere religious beliefs or for philosophical reasons on or prior to September 1, 2021 pursuant to the law in effect prior to that date may continue to attend school under that existing exemption with a written statement from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant that they have consulted with and made the parent/guardian, or student if 18 years of age or older, aware of the risks and benefits associated with immunization.
• 90-Day Waiver:  The parent/guardian provides written assurance that the student will be immunized within 90 days of enrolling in school or the student's first attendance in classes, whichever date is earlier. This option is available as a one-time provision.

In the event of an outbreak of a specific disease for which a student is not protected, the student may be kept out of school and school activities as advised by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The length of time a student will be kept out may vary depending on the disease and the length of the outbreak. 
Please contact the school nurse if your student requires a medical exemption, a 90-day waiver, or an exemption as specified above.

For more information regarding immunizations and pre-K requirements please click the links below.

• Maine School Immunization Requirements
• Exigences en matière de vaccinations des écoles du Maine (Immunization requirements in French)
• Requisitos para a imunização nas escolas de Maine (Immunization requirements in Portuguese)
• Requisitos de vacunación en las escuelas de Maine (Immunization requirements in Spanish)
• Scarborough School District's Immunization Policy- JLCB

Please update your child’s health history each year through PowerSchool. Updating your child’ health history annually allows us to provide the best and most appropriate care for your child. 

PowerSchool - You may also download the PowerSchool Application on your phone- some find the App more user friendly.

What Health Screenings are done at School?

It is important to identify students who may have hearing and/or vision deficits as early in their learning journey as possible.

• Vision screening will take place in Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9th grades.
• Hearing screening will take place in Pre-K, K, 1, 3, and 5th grades.

If your child  screens outside of the screening parameters, you will be contacted and provided with next steps.
 

What if my child needs medication at school?

In the event your child requires medication (prescription or over the counter) at school, please obtain an order from your child’s provider, complete the Medication Administration Form and bring the medication to the clinic in the original labeled container. Medication must be handed off by an adult to an adult. Students are not allowed to transport medication to or from school.

If a prescription medication is to be administered for less than 14 days (ex. An antibiotic), the prescription label on the bottle will serve as the health care provider’s order.  The Medication Administration Form should still be completed by the parent or guardian and the medication should be brought to school and provided to the clinic by an adult.

Students may not transport, carry, or self-administer any prescription or non-prescription medication (this includes Tylenol, Advil/Motrin, cough medicine), with the exception of rescue medications. With annually updated physician orders, parent permission, and school nurse approval, students may carry and self-administer Rescue Inhalers and Epinephrine. 

Scarborough school’s physician (Jonathan Fanburg, MD)  provides standing orders for each clinic annually. Each school stocks and may provide Calagel (anti-itch cream), Bacitracin (antibiotic ointment) and Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) as needed for students. Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen and Tums (grades 6-12) are also stocked. These medications require parental permission for administration. The parental permission form for medication administration is now electronic and located in PowerSchool to be completed annually. If unable to complete the electronic version, this paper copy may also be completed and provided to your school’s clinic.

Epinephrine (Epi-Pen Jr, Epi-Pen)and Albuterol are located in each clinic for emergency use.  

Translated Health Forms - (En Francais, Espanol, Portuguese)

Scarborough's Medication Administration Policy- JLCD

Medical Action Plans need to be updated and signed by your child’s provider annually.  If your child has Asthma, a Seizure Disorder, or a Severe Allergy that requires a health plan please speak with your provider to obtain one.  An updated plan is required each school year.  

Maine state law allows students to self carry emergency medication at the discretion of the provider, parent and school nurse with proper documentation.  This needs to be indicated on the health plan with signatures from the provider and parent.