District 112 Allergy Committee

1
District 112 Allergy Committee

• Summary of Food Allergy Committee Work
• and Information Shared with
• North Shore School District 112
• Board of Education

2
Purpose of the Allergy Committee

• To research food allergy management
• To develop guidelines to assist schools in
  appropriate and consistent management of student
  allergies

3
Committee Efforts

• reviewed guidelines on allergy management in
  districts with a similar profile (SD 39 and SD
  67)
• consulted via administration with legal counsel
  regarding best practices and district
  responsibility regarding food allergy management

4
Committee Efforts

• developed questions and interviewed
• medical personnel
• a superintendent of schools
• food service management
• consulted parent networks and work products from
  groups (MOCHA, FAAN and research articles)
• MOCHA - Mothers of Children Having Allergies
• FAAN - Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network

5
Committee Efforts

• surveyed Lake County school districts regarding
  their practices
• developed, distributed, compiled, and discussed
  survey results from Oak Terrace (piloted peanut
  restriction in 08-09)
• parents
• students
• staff

6
Committee Efforts

• reviewed correspondence received in the
  Department of Student Services regarding allergy
  management

7
Committee Outcomes

• DRAFT guidelines were created which emphasize
  consistency
• in planning for students with allergies (504 or
  IEP)
• in education and awareness for all school
  community members in roles and responsibilities
  for staff, students, parents, and administrators
• in promoting and modeling sanitary practices
• in use of forms and paperwork

8
Committee Outcomes

• The committee did not reach consensus on
  restrictive practices in schools.
• Two positions were identified.
• Position One Schools should restrict products
  containing peanuts throughout the building.
• Position Two Schools should not engage in
  school-wide restriction of any food product.

9
Position One School-Wide Restriction of Peanuts

• topical exposure and/or ingestion of peanuts
  cause life-threatening reactions in some students
• school-wide restriction of peanuts reduces the
  amount of peanuts in schools thereby reducing the
  possibility of incidental exposure and
  life-threatening reactions
• restrictions facilitate 504 plan accommodations

10
Position Two Not Restricting Peanuts in Schools

• current efforts using 504 plans or IEPs,
  educational awareness and hygiene practices have
  been successful in providing/ promoting safe
  environments for students
• restricting allergens does not guarantee that the
  school environment is free of the product and
  could create a false sense of security
• restrictions are difficult to enforce

11
Position Two Not Restricting Peanuts in Schools

• restricting one allergen may lead to the
  expectation to restrict other allergens such as
  tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy,
  wheat, strawberries
• restricting products may overly restrict options
  for other families and students

12
Committee Outcomes

• A key question on which Committee members could
  not reach consensus
• Should District 112 restrict peanut butter and
• peanut products from all schools in the district?

13
Committee Outcomes

• The committee arrived at consensus to present its
  findings to district leadership for review and
  for the development of an administrative
  recommendation to the School Board on the matter
  of restriction

14
A Special Note

• Medical and legal associations have not taken a
  position on the issue of school-wide food
  restrictions therefore, local school board
  policy governs food restrictions

15
Administrative Recommendations

• Adoption of the DRAFT guidelines that promote
• consistent approaches and tools for school teams
  to reinforce current plans to support students
  with allergies
• consistent approaches to staff development
• clear roles and responsibilities for staff,
  students, parents and administrators
• effective hygienic practices

16
Administrative Recommendations

• Adoption of the following practices as a part of
  established guidelines for all elementary schools
  and middle schools in North Shore School District
  112
• adherence to District nutrition policy 650
• no food items in classrooms except for fruits and
  vegetables and nutritional snacks served as a
  part of holiday celebrations

17
Administration Recommendations

• Adoption of the following practices as a part of
  established guidelines for all grade schools and
  middle schools in NSSD 112
• Food items permitted in lunchrooms/cafeterias and
  staff lounges
• Note food items will be permitted in expanded
  areas of the school, with the exception of
  classrooms, for events that have been approved by
  the building principal. The building principal
  will ensure that proper cleaning will occur
  following these approved activities

18
Administrative Recommendations

• Adoption of the following practices as a part of
  the established guidelines for all elementary
  schools and middle schools in North Shore School
  District 112
• No food items to be taken onto the playground
  after lunch
• No food items to be opened and eaten while on
  school buses during daily trips to and from
  school
• Table-restrictions in lunchrooms/cafeterias
• A focus on good hygiene practices including
  hand-washing/wiping and no sharing of food and
  utensils

19
Administrative Recommendations

• The Administrative recommendation does not
  include school wide restriction of any food
  product.
• 504 Plans or IEPs will determine specific food
  restrictions based on individual student needs.

20
Closing Remarks

• A special thank you to the Food Allergy Committee
  for participating in this process

21
A Special Thank You

• Judy Amidei, Nurse
• Sandy Anderson, Principal
• Jeanne Banas, Principal
• Matt Barbini, Director of Student Services
• Beth Bernat, Parent
• Paul Dincin, Parent
• Dr. Bruce Hyman, Board Member

• Katie Janowiak, Teacher
• Lynne Karmin, Parent
• Pat Kritzman, Principal
• Phyllis Mikell, Nurse
• Caryn Platt-Tatelli, Parent
• Lauren Polakoff, Teacher
• Cindy Smith, Parent