Head Lice Policy Rankles LEUSD Parent

A parent whose child attends Wildomar Elementary School is upset over district policy regarding the reporting of head lice.

The parent, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of embarrassing the child, believes parents "have a right to know what is floating around the schools."

The issue was raised when the child came home with head lice. The parent acknowledges the infestation may have come from somewhere other than the classroom, but still called the Wildomar Elementary health office to report the issue in an effort to ensure other parents could be made aware.

"[I] explained that a note should be sent home with the students -- especially in the class my child is in -- warning parents to check for lice," the parent said.
"I pay taxes for my child, and other children, to attend  [school]. Parents should be notified if a child in the school has lice! Any policy which states otherwise is absolutely wrong."

The parent was told by school officials that notification is only sent out when two or more students in a class become infected.

Mark Dennis, spokesman for the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, confirmed district policy states, “When it is determined that two or more students in a class are infested with head lice, all students in the class shall be screened. The principal or designee may, at his/her discretion, notify parents/guardians of students in that class and provide them with information about the detection and treatment of head lice."

The district policy also maintains that the privacy of infected students is to be protected, Dennis confirmed.

"Wildomar Elementary staff did follow district policy," Dennis continued.

The concerned parent wants to see change.

"I think Wildomar parents should at least be made aware, even if its only one case of lice. It allows for extra precautions to be made and earlier detection of these nasty little critters.

"Being kept in the dark, for me, is about the same as being lied to, and it's wrong."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, "the head louse, or Pediculus humanus capitis, is a parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes of people. Head lice feed on human blood several time a day and live close to the human scalp. Head lice are not known to spread disease."

Head lice infestation is most common among pre-school children attending child care, elementary schoolchildren, and the household members of infested children, according to the CDC.

Click here for information from the CDC on treating head lice.