Absences and Illness

Nurse helping studentPlease call the Attendance Line when a student will be absent or late.
When students are absent or going to be absent from school, we ask that a parent/guardian notify the school with the reason for absence. Click here for a list of school attendance line phone numbers.

Please call the elementary schools before 9:30 AM. Notify the secondary schools before 10:30 AM. All buildings have voicemail set up for non-school hours.

When a student will be late to school because of an appointment, missed bus, oversleeping, etc., we ask that you contact the office as soon as possible to let us know if or when the student is expected to arrive at school.

Should My Child Stay Home from School?
Parents and students frequently have questions about when it is appropriate to stay home from school because of illness. Follow these guidelines to help with your decision and keep your student at home:
  • If you test positive for COVID 19, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends 5 days of isolation. Click for the MDH COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
  • If your child has had a temperature of 100.0ºF or higher in the past 24 hours.
  • If your child has had diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
  • If your child has vomited two or more times in the previous 24 hours, unless it is determined to be caused by a noncommunicable condition and the child is not in danger of dehydration.
  • If your child has a new, undiagnosed rash.
  • If your child has pus-like eye drainage.
  • If your child has symptoms of severe illness such as unusual fatigue, uncontrolled cough and difficulty breathing.
  • If your child feels ill enough that he/she would not be able to benefit from being at school.

Please contact your school's health office if you have any questions.

Contacting Parent/Guardian
If your child/adolescent becomes ill at school and needs to go home, Health Service staff will attempt to contact a parent/guardian listed on the Emergency Information form.

The emergency contact on the Emergency Information form will be contacted if we feel your child needs to go home and we are unable to reach a parent/guardian.

Your child will not be allowed to leave school without contacting an adult.

911 will be called in the event of a medical emergency. The school will then attempt to make contact with the parent/guardian listed on the Emergency Information form.

If your child has been diagnosed with a health condition, please contact the school's health office to discuss when your child will be able to return to school.

Communicable Conditions
Click here for more information on specific illnesses. The page provides information on specific health conditions and exclusion guidelines for specific communicable conditions, such as:
  • strep throat
  • pertussis
  • ringworm
  • chickenpox
  • fifth disease
  • and many other conditions