BUSINESS OFFICE/SAFETY & HEALTH
5740 Lawn Avenue
(216) 587-6100 ext. 3222
Fax: (216) 587-6172
WELLNESS PROGRAM
In response to the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act requirement, the Maple Heights City School District has established a Wellness Committee comprised of Board of Education Members, parents, students, faculty and staff members, food service personnel, our school nurse, local business partners, and a representative from the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the American Diabetes Association. The Committee’s purpose is to work together for the common goal of promoting healthy lifestyle choices for students, faculty, and staff which include; nutrition education, healthy meal choices, increased physical activity awareness, and other school-based activities designed to promote wellness.
A copy of the district Wellness & Safety Program can be obtained through your child’s school office,by contacting Mr. Eble, or by clicking on the wellness program link.
H1N1 VIRUS - IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Public health authorities are advising schools, families, and communities to prepare for possible outbreaks this fall of H1N1 influenza (also known as "swine flu"). Caution should be exercised because children and young adults appear especially susceptible to the H1N1 virus. People who are pregnant or have chronic medical conditions should exercise extreme caution and seek further advice from their medical care provider.
Maple Heights City Schools adheres to the guidelines of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Ohio Department of Health, and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health; the following are recommended for families:
Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. You can set a good example by doing this yourself. Studies show that washing hands at least 5 times a day for at least 20 seconds significantly decreases the spread of influenza and upper respiratory infections.
Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils.
Teach your children to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues and to dispose of the tissues properly after use. Coughs or sneezes can be covered using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue is unavailable.
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also vomit or have diarrhea. These are the same symptoms present with seasonal influenza, colds, and many other upper respiratory infections. While the symptoms may or may not be caused by H1N1, your child should be kept home regardless.
Do not send children to school if they are sick. At the onset of the illness, children may be contagious even when a fever is not present. Therefore, if your child feels ill, keep him or her home. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.
Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not have signs of fever, without using fever-reducing drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
Do not give your student aspirin or other products that contain salicylates. These have been associated with Reye's Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that can affect children and adolescents who have viral illnesses. Your health care provider can recommend a safer medication to reduce fever and alleviate aches and pains.
Be in contact with your healthcare provider about whether your child needs to be examined or tested when symptoms of influenza-like illness are present. Warning signs of severe infection in children may include:
- Fast breathing, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing
- Bluish or gray skin color
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Not waking up or not interacting
- Irritable, the child does not want to be held
- Confusion
- Sudden dizziness
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Ask your healthcare provider about the advisability of vaccination for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu.
Maple Heights City Schools will continue to follow the guidelines established by federal, state, and local public health authorities; you may visit the main office at your child’s school to obtain additional H1N1 fact sheets and guidelines. Further measures will depend upon the extent and severity of the disease and on the advice of public health authorities.
Information relevant to the Maple Heights City Schools will be posted at www.mapleschools.com as needed. Other resources include: Centers for Disease Control, Ohio Department of Health, and Cuyahoga County Board of Health
ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLANS IN OUR SCHOOLS
2009-10 Public Notification & Posting
The Maple Heights City School District has developed asbestos management plans for every district-owned building. These plans, which are located in the office of each building as well as a copy kept with custodial staff, are available for review during normal school hours. The Management Plans detail “response actions” necessary at each building.
In compliance with AHERA Law (40) CFR Part 763.84 an initial & complete inspection of all of our buildings was made before the October 13, 1988 deadline, with periodic inspections as well as triennial re-inspections as required thereafter. More recently the district retained GETCO Environmental to conduct the required 2009 triennial re-inspections and periodic re-inspections of all of our buildings, as required under AHERA law. Their accredited inspectors not only checked the condition of the asbestos, but reassessed operations and maintenance procedures that will keep this material in a safe condition.
To protect the health of students and staff from asbestos in the schools, the AHERA Law (40) CFR Part 763.84 requires that the district appoint a person to be responsible for all asbestos control. This person must ensure that the district abide by all requirements of federal, state, and local government regarding asbestos responsibility. Mr. Jeff Eble is the person responsible in our district and is available to answer questions by calling 587-6100, extension 3222 or by email at jeff.eble@mapleschools.com.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) PLAN
The District is committed to providing a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. The Maple Heights City Schools believes pest control or pest management has evolved from the days of spray applied chemicals as standard practice for pest eradication. Fortunately, we are much smarter today and subscribe to the philosophy and practice of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. Modern pest management is more than a reaction to a problem; it is about preventing pests while protecting people.
IPM is a system that is used to eliminate and prevent the infestation of unwanted pests while de-emphasizing the use of insecticides/pesticides. The integration between good quality housekeeping, exclusion and non-pesticide procedures is essential to the success of our IPM program. Emphasis is placed on good quality housekeeping, monitoring and controlling the environment while insecticides/pesticides are considered only as supplement to other techniques. The Maple Heights City Schools prohibit the application of rodenticides, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides inside and/or around any district-owned building without an approved IPM Plan including the consent of the IPM Program team.
Mr. Jeff Eble is the person responsible in our district for administering the IPM Program. Mr. Eble is available to answer questions by calling 587-6100, extension 3222.