Health Services

Bellingham Public Schools employs six full time nurse positions. The nurses are each assigned to several schools, and carry cell phones making them readily available to their schools and staff.

School nurses are specialized professionals who provide knowledgeable insight into acute and chronic health conditions, and normal growth and development. Nurses can support your student by:

• Implementing Individual Health Plans
• Supervising medications
• Planning for students with life threatening health conditions
• Developing classroom accommodation plans
• Acting as a liaison between families, students, school personnel and the medical community
• Monitors communicable diseases
• Oversees immunization compliance
• Provides state mandated screenings

If your student has any health concerns, please contact your school nurse.

 

When should I send my child to school?

Here are recommendations about when your child should attend school or stay home when they have an illness.

When should I send my child to school?

 

Annual Health Concerns Document

Each year this form is to be completed by the Parent/Guardian and returned to their student’s school by mid-September.

Annual Health Concerns Document

 

Life Threatening Health Conditions

Before the first day of school the parent/guardian of students who have life threatening health conditions must provide the school nurse a copy of medication or treatment orders, and any necessary medication or equipment. The school nurse and the parent/guardian will develop an Individual Health Plan. A life threatening health condition is one that will put the student in danger of death during the school day or school sponsored activity if a medication or treatment order and an Individual Health Plan are not in place. This includes students with conditions such as anaphylaxis to bee stings, severe food allergies, diabetes and other health conditions. The school nurse can be contacted through the student’s school. If the student participates in school-sponsored activities the parent must contact the activity advisor or coach and the school nurse to make arrangements.

 

Head Lice Information

Head Lice Management Guidelines

Lice Tool Kit

Head Lice Treatment

School Nurses

Nurse	Cell Phone	Assigned Schools
Thea Anderson, BSN, RN	(360) 303-0554	Alderwood & Birchwood Elementary Schools; Shuksan Middle School; Family Partnership Program
Barbara Cummins, BSN, RN	(360) 201-6390	Geneva & Roosevelt Elementary Schools; Kulshan Middle School; Options High School; Grads Program
Shelly Donahue, BSN, RN	(360) 927-1773	Columbia Elementary School; Fairhaven Middle School; Squalicum High School
Lori Fransen, BSN, RN	(360) 201-9178	Lowell & Silver Beach Elementary Schools; Whatcom Middle School
Alyssa Johnson, MSN, RN	(360) 201-8766	Happy Valley & Wade King Elementary Schools; Sehome High School
Tobi Melton, BSN, RN	(360) 961-9623	Northern Heights & Parkview Elementary Schools; Bellingham High School; Community Transitions Program
Dusta Wright, BSN, RN	(360) 393-1514	Carl Cozier, Cordata & Sunnyland Elementary Schools