By Kellie Mullin
Staff Writer
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees passed a new head lice policy on Oct. 16 which states that parents of students found with live lice during school will have the ultimate decision of whether their child will be sent home or remain in the classroom.
The next day, the student will be checked for live lice again, and if lice is found on the student, he or she will not be permitted to attend classes. The California School Board Association and the Medical Advisory Board sent a recommendation to schools to switch policies.
“It makes sense that students should not have to miss school unnecessarily for having head lice,” MBUSD Board President Ida VanderPoorte said. “Letting students go to class after the first day they are found with lice is the best choice.”
According to the Center for Disease Control, head lice does not spread like an infectious disease, so it is considered a nuisance, not a health hazard. Therefore, it is safe for students to remain at school immediately after being found with head lice.
“Lice is spread commonly outside of school between friends and family members, rather than during class,” MBUSD nurse Kristin Walz said. “So, it isn’t a threat in the classroom.”
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