Couldn't the PTO send home a survey asking parents for permission to help their child by calling if the student shows up in the sick room. You would probably have a strong response in favor and could then get the numbers from the school's office so that one and only one phone list is maintained (ask for permission for that please). Perhaps you should survey as to what occasion that specific child's parents should be contacted.
Thanks SO much for your answers. We also had to quit printing our School Directory because of 'confidentiality' reasons. However, we did find out that we were one of the only schools actually cutting out the directory. It was a Godsend! When you signed a card that you wanted to be in the directory you gave your permission that you wanted your number to in the directory so I can't figure out how this went against a Privacy Law. Most parents are really upset about this because it is SO helpful. I think our principal was just so overly cautious. I guess I just feel that it should be up to the actual parent to decide if a kid is faking not someone who doesn't know your kid as well as you do. (By the way my child was actually sick
As far as confidential information, keep in mind we aren't just talking about the home phone number we may all be willing to share on a directory. The parental contact info is going to include office numbers, cell phones, pagers, as well as alternative contacts. Generally speaking, I don't think volunteers should have access to that information.
It's good the school is being careful, but sending potentially sick kids back to class seems like an aburd solution.
How many kids a day (on average) would need to have their parents called? 1, 2, less? It should be simple enough for someone in the school office to call the parents once the parent volunteer deems it appropriate.
Hey everyone! I apologize if I came across as "slamming" any one else's schools--I'm just passionate about issues regarding children. I didn't realize how many schools don't have a full time nurse! I certainly didn't mean to put down anyone else's school! Our school does have a strict policy, volunteers don't have access to Emergency cards. But of the 425 students at our school, only a handful of parents opt to not be contacted by the phone tree--obviously, all of the parents that do sign up want to be contacted in the event of an emergency. Wouldn't your sick child fall under that policy? Yes, sometimes children do "fake" sick, but that is a judgement call that I still believe either only a nurse or his parent should make. It is your child...personally, I'd rather know when my child is in the office because he's not feeling well--and I'll go as far to say that it is the school's responsiblility to make sure that either they or a parent provides adequate care for that child--not just shuffle them off to class. And what about the other children in class? They shouldn't sit next to a child that is genuinely ill. Schools are responsible for the health and care for EVERY CHILD while they are in that building...and making sure to adequately staff the needs of those children.
We have 375 kids, private school, no nurse, just one smart school secretary who doles out ice packs. I can't imagine that you can't get parents phone numbers?? Don't you have a school directory? We have one that goes out to every family in the school so getting the number wouldn't be a problem. I am sort of amazed that it takes volunteers in your school six hours a day just to deal with sick kids but I'm impressed you're able to staff it every day. We don't have a big enough problem with sick kids to need a full-time volunteer. Maybe the office just doesn't really want the PTO help all day long? Did they say they still wanted your group to help?
Shelly
We have a part-time nurse, and the principal and 2 secretaries handle sick/injured kids when she isn't there. Parents have never been involved in that, to my knowledge. Of course, we are a small school--only 300 students--so the administrative staff knows the kids and seems quite capable of not only patching up the boo-boos but sorting the fakers from the kids who really don't feel well.
Our school does have a standard form they send home any time a child goes to the clinic giving the reason for the visit and the action taken, if any. I would honestly be more concerned about not getting that report than having my sick kid sent back to class--after all, the custodial staff will probably have a few things to say about keeping the sick kids in the building if that continues! But the reports can be valuable for analyzing symptoms the child might show later or for spotting non-health problems that might be occurring with a child who's going to the clinic too often. Is your a public school, jstone? If so, I would think there would be some sort of standard policy on that--for cya legal reasons, if nothing else.
