Management of Food Allergies
Parents should notify the school nurse and their child's classroom teacher(s) about any food allergies their child has.
While it's not possible to completely eliminate the risks of exposure to allergens when a student is at school, a cooperative effort involving the student, the student's family and school staff can help District 401 reduce these risks and provide accommodations and proper treatment for allergic reactions.
Developing an Action Plan
The school nurse will work with the parents and the student to determine the appropriate food allergy action plan.
A downloadable copy of a food allergy action plan can be found here.
District 401’s Policy on Managing Food Allergies
Each school's procedures concerning food allergies are governed by District 401's policy on food allergy management, which can be found in Section 7:285 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual. The policy includes the following rules and guidelines:
While it is not possible for the District to completely eliminate the risks of exposure to allergens when a student is at school, a Food Allergy Management Program using a cooperative effort among students' families, staff members, and students helps the District reduce these risks and provide accommodations and proper treatment for allergic reactions.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement a Food Allergy Management Program that:
1. Fully implements the following goals established in the School Code: (a) identifying students with food allergies, (b) preventing exposure to known allergens, (c) responding to allergic reactions with prompt recognition of symptoms and treatment, and (d) educating and training all staff about management of students with food allergies, including administration of medication with an auto-injector, and providing an in-service training program for staff who work with students that is conducted by a person with expertise in anaphylactic reactions and management.
2. Follows and references the applicable best practices specific to the District's needs in the joint State Board of Education and Ill. Dept. of Public Health publication "Guidelines for Managing Life-Threatening Food Allergies in Schools."
3. Complies with State and federal law and is in alignment with Board policies.
The complete text of Section 7:285 of the District Policy Manual is available here.