Health Services

Guidelines for Medication at School

If medication needs to be taken during the school day please follow these guidelines:

• Have a completed, signed Medical Authorization Form.
• The parent/guardian must complete the bottom section and a healthcare provider must complete the medication order section.
• A new Medication Authorization Form must be completed each school year or when there is a change n the medication or dose.
• All medication must be in the original container n which container in which it was dispensed by the prescribing physician, healthcare provider or licensed pharmacist.
  • The container must be labeled with the correct dose and instructions.
  • The label should match what is on the Medication Authorization Form.
  • Students taking medication at both school and home can request 2 separate labeled bottles from the pharmacy to divide the pills to have some at home and school.
• School personnel cannot give students over-the-counter medications unless prescribed by a healthcare provider and a Medication Authorization Form is completed.
• Prescribed over the counter medications follow the same guidelines as stated above for prescribed medications. (Over the counter medications include pain medication such as Tylenol, cough medicine, ointments.)
• Medications ordered three times a day or less, unless there is a time specified, may not need to be given at school.
• The medication should be given before school, after school and at bedtime.
• All left over medication must be picked up by the parent or guardian on the last day of school or it will be disposed of properly.

Berkshire Schools Medication Policy

The Berkshire Board of Education and its employees are not responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of illness, or legally obligated to administer medication at school. The administration of medication at school as prescribed by a student’s physician will be permitted when failure to do so would jeopardize the health of the student, prevent regular school attendance or if, due to disability, the medication is needed by the student to allow them to benefit from their education.

Acutely ill students should be kept at home until they have sufficiently recovered and no longer need medication to manage symptoms during the school day. Alternatives to requesting medication at school are timing doses for before and after school and parents may come to school to administer the medication in person.

Medications are kept secure in the school office or clinic. The building administrators, secretaries, and some teachers are authorized by the Board of Education to administer medications after they are processed by the school nurse. It is a violation of school rules for a student to possess and take medication or to provide it to another student on school property. This includes over the counter medication. Students in grades 7-12 that are prescribed insulin, epinephrine and rescue asthma inhalers may carry and self administer these medications once a Medication Administration Request Form is on file at the school.

Medication Administration Request Form:

Medications provided to the school must be:

Please direct questions to Mrs. Jayme Kollman, RN, LSN, Berkshire School Nurse, at jayme.kollman@berkshireschools.org 440-834-3380 x3307.

08/21