Health Services

Supporting Student Health

Health students learn better! Our health staff are here to support a healthy learning community.

We work closely with families to support all students, manage health conditions, build independence, and succeed in school. Explore our resources below to learn how we keep our schools healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Health Advisory: Measles Cases Reported in Minnesota

A white cross is centered on a blue shield with a white outline, set against a plain white background.

Measles is spreading in Minnesota and the U.S. There are currently no cases in District 196 schools. Measles spreads quickly and can be serious.

Symptoms: Fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash.
Action: Make sure your child is up to date on the MMR vaccine.

Free Resource: Check out an online mini-course called Measles: What Everyone Needs to Know

Madison Dian

Nurse

School: 651-683-6823

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Allergies

Student safety is our top priority. While we cannot remove all allergens from school, our nurses work with families and staff to lower risks.

What Families Need to Do:

Tell the School Nurse: Let your school nurse know about your student's allergies. They will inform and provide training regarding your student's allergy and emergency medication on a need-to-know basis with additional school staff.
Talk to Teachers: Contact your student's teacher at the beginning of the year to discuss their allergy. The school nurse will also train key staff.
Notify Extra Activity Personnel: Inform before-and-after-school programs, such as SAC, as a school nurse may not be on duty during these times.

Two epinephrine pens rest on a desk, while a young student in a classroom is seen in the blurred background.

Severe Food Allergy or Celiac Disease

Special School Meals: If your student needs meal changes for a medical reason, please submit a special diet statement signed by a doctor to the school nurse. You can review District 196 Regulation 710.2.4AR Meal Substitution Requests for details. We also recommend meeting with the school's Nutrition Services Manager to review safe menu options with your student. Your student's allergy will be noted on their meal PIN account.

Menu Icons

The elementary menu uses the following icons:

(*) pork
(#) peanuts
(~) number of grams of carbohydrates calculated in each food item.

The secondary menu uses the following icons:

(V) vegetarian
(a small picture of a peanut with a line through it) peanut-free
(*) pork.

The carbohydrate counts for the secondary menu are available on the food menu. This is particularly important for diabetic students so they can calculate their insulin dosage for that meal.

Lactose Intolerant

Food Preferences and Vegetarian Options

The Food and Nutrition Services Department understands that many families have food preferences for their children.

Foods that contain pork per the manufacturer’s label are identified on the menu with an asterisk (*).
Yogurt does not contain any gelatin pork by-product.
Corn dogs are made with chicken or turkey.
Hot dogs are beef.
Baked beans are vegetarian and do not contain any meat by-products.

Several vegetarian options are available for students. Watch our menus for meatless entrees such as tacos served with black beans and cheese instead of taco meat; cheese pizza instead of pepperoni; nachos; French toast sticks; fish; cheese omelets, etc.

Elementary menu

In addition to the menu items listed above, students have access to a meatless sandwich every day. On designated days, a protein salad without meat or a fruit and yogurt plate will be available or pasta with meatless spaghetti sauce will be served.

Middle and high school menus

On designated days, in addition to the menu items listed above, students have access to a vegetable and cheese bagel, a vegetable and cheese sandwich, meatless entrée salads, yogurt parfaits and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Illness Guidelines

District 196 follows guidance from leading health organizations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Minnesota Department of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics) to reduce the spread of communicable disease.

If you're unsure if your student should attend school, consult with a healthcare provider or contact the school nurse.

A student lies on an examination table, while the school nurse kneels beside her in the health office.

When Students Should Stay Home

Generally, students who do not feel healthy enough to participate in routine school activities should stay home until feeling well enough to rejoin school activities.

Fever: Students should stay home if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher. Students can return to school when fever free for 20 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
Strep Throat: Students can return 12 hours after beginning antibiotics and fever free for 20 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
Vomiting or Diarrhea (without a known reason): Students can return to school 20 hours after the last occurrence.
Rash (without a known reason): Students should stay home if the rash is causing a change in behavior or if they have a fever of 100.4°F or higher.
Excessive Cough: Students who have a persistent cough that makes it difficult to participate in school should stay home until they are healthy enough to participate in school.

When a Sick Student Needs to Go Home

Pink Eye and Head Lice Guidance

Pick Eye (Conjunctivitis)

There is no exclusion for pine eye unless the student has a fever of 100.4°F or higher and/or is not healthy enough to participate in school activities.
Consult a healthcare provider for eye pain, reduced/blurry vision, or recent eye trauma.
Learn more about Pink Eye from the Minnesota Department of Health

Head Lice (Pediculus Humanus Capitis)

There are no exclusions from school for head lice. While notifying your student's school is encouraged, it is not required.
Notifications may be sent home with three of more known cases of head lice in a classroom within one month.
Head lice is a common occurrence. It is not related to cleanliness and has not been shown to spread at school.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to regularly monitor for lice.
If live lice are found at school, resources for treatment will be shared with parents/guardians.
Learn more about Head Lice, including treatment options, from the Minnesota Department of Health

Air Quality and Outdoor Activity Guidance

District 196 follows guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to decide if changes to outdoor activities are needed due to air quality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get 60 or more minutes of physical activity each day.

To keep students safe while staying active, school principals and building nurses will work together to:

Change outdoor plans based on EPA air quality guidance to lower health risks
Teach students and staff about risks and what health symptoms to watch for
Identify students who may need to take prescribed medication before going outside
Find and help any student showing health symptoms right away so they can get first aid

Immunizations

In Minnesota, all students are required to get certain vaccines to go to school, or submit an official exemption form. All documents can be submitted to your student's school nurse.

Minnesota law states that every public school student must have one of the following on file by the beginning of the school year:

Vaccine Record: A form from your healthcare provider showing your student received all required vaccines
Catch-up Schedule: A plan from a doctor or clinic showing when your student will get their missing vaccines
Medical Exemption: A form signed y a doctor stating that your student cannot get a vaccine for medical reasons
Non-Medical Exemption: A form stating your personal beliefs against vaccines, which must be signed by a notary

View vaccination information from the Minnesota Department of Health

Students who do not have one of the above documents on file will be excluded from school and activities. Families of students facing exclusion will receive communication ahead of the exclusion date.

2026-27 Immunization Clinics

District 196 partners with Dakota County Public Health and Homeland health to offer immunization clinics to all District 196 students, with and without medical insurance. Translation and notary services are available. Pre-registration is preferred and will be available closer to each event. Walk-ins are welcome.

Sept. 10, 2026 - Falcon Ridge Middle School
Oct. 19, 2026 - Apply Valley High School
Oct. 20, 2026 - Diamond Path Elementary
March 11, 2027 - Location to be announced

Vaccine Schedule

Kindergarten to 6th Grade

Hepatitis B (Hep B): 3 doses
Polio (IPV): 4 doses
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): 2 doses
Varicella (Chickenpox): 2 doses
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP): 5 doses

7th Grade to 11th Grade

All of the vaccines required for Kindergarten through 6th Grade; plus,
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap): 1 dose
Meningococcal: 1 dose

12th Grade

Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY): 2 doses

Recommended But Not Required Vaccines

Influenza (flu): Annual
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): 2 doses if given before age 15. 3 doses if given after age 15.
Meningococcal B (MenB)
COVID-19: As recommended for age group

Immunization Resources

Students with Medical Insurance
Students Without Medical Insurance or Limited Coverage

Students with Medical Insurance

Students Without Medical Insurance or Limited Coverage

Dakota County Public Health (Apple Valley and West St. Paul) **No one will be turned away if you are unable to pay. Vaccination by appointment only (Mondays and Wednesdays): Call 952-891-7999 - Select language (English, Spanish, or Somali). Leave a message with your callback number, and someone will call back in your preferred language to schedule an appointment. Eligibility criteria:

You are uninsured; or
You are enrolled in Minnesota Medical Assistance (MA), Minnesota Care (MnCare), or Prepaid Medical Assistance Program (PMAP); or
You are an American Indian or Alaskan Native; or
You have health insurance that does not cover the cost of the vaccine

View Dakota County Community Vaccine Clinics Schedule

Diamondhead Community Clinic (open to Eagan, Burnsville, and Savage residents), Diamondhead Education Center: 200 West Burnsville Parkway, Suite 1023, Burnsville

Open Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Walk-in; no appointment needed
Services are free

No Shots No School Clinics **Appointment and form from school nurse required

Health Partners - Apple Valley, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights
MHealth - Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville, Rosemount
Park Nicollet - Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville

A nurse in blue scrubs applies a bandage to a smiling young boy's arm in a health clinic

Minnesota K-12 Immunization Requirements

Medicine in School

To keep students safe, District 196 has strict rules for medicine at school:

All prescription medicine must stay in the nurse's office. Only the nurse or trained staff can give medicine to your student.
Students may only carry their own inhaler, Epi-Pen, or insulin if a special self-medication form is signed and on file with the nurse.
Health offices do not provide over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, Benadryl, acetaminophen/Tylenol, antacids, etc.)
- Students in grades 7-12 may self-carry non-prescription pain relievers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen) with annual permission (complete in Campus Parent Portal)
- Families of students in grades K-6 may send an unopened, original container of over-the-counter medicine for their student with a signed authorization from the parent/guardian and health care provider. Please send a separate bottle of medicine for each child. The school nurse must organize and track doses for each student individually.
Emergency medication such as epinephrine and naloxone will remain available as authorized by state statute.
Health offices also offer students rest, water, heat packs, and healthy habit tips.

The school nurse high-fives a student across a counter in the health office.

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