The intention of this policy is to provide a healthy and safe environment for our members. Some illnesses and situations require a person to be absent from co-op to prevent the spread of infection to others and to allow time to rest, recover, and receive treatment for the illness. In order to help keep our students and staff healthy, UHC requires adherence to the guidelines of this policy. Please note, there are a number of individuals in our co-op with compromised immune systems. Knowingly exposing them to others who are sick puts them at risk not only for contracting the original illness, but also for additional complications.

UHC members will not be permitted to attend co-op or co-op related activities when exhibiting the following contagious illnesses such as, but not limited to the following:

Fever: May return when fever free (under 100 degrees) for 24 hours, without medication.
Diarrhea/Vomiting: May return when symptom free for 24 hours
Strep Throat: May return after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment and no fever for 24 hours
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: May return after fever free for 24 hours and the mouth sores and open blisters have healed
Conjunctivitis (pink eye): May return 24 hours after treatment begins and eyes are free of discharge
Head Lice: May return after treatment and removal of all live lice and nits from hair
Ringworm: May return after treatment begins; area should be covered while in school for first 48 hours of treatment
Impetigo/Staph/MRSA: May return 24 hours after treatment starts; wound must be covered with dressing taped on all 4 sides
Communicable Diseases: such as, but not limited to influenza, chickenpox, measles, mumps, pertussis, meningitis, mononucleosis, and all *Covid related illnesses. May return when cleared by their medical provider.

Please understand that no one with probable symptoms of any communicable disease should be present on campus. Please notify the appropriate Director if an individual in your family (household) is suspected of having any communicable disease.

If a student arrives at school with symptoms, or during the school day begins to show symptoms indicative of a condition listed above, the student will be kept in a secure environment, and the parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to pick the child up as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes of receiving the call. The parent/guardian will maintain direct contact with the co-op and the student’s teacher if they are diagnosed with any communicable disease so UHC can take appropriate steps to protect everyone on campus.

If you or your student is sick, and it is your turn to fulfill your parent volunteer responsibilities, please refer to the FAQ’s on the UHC Parent Assistant page.

NOTE: Whenever bodily fluids (vomit, diarrhea, etc) come in contact with the carpet, the carpet in that area must be professionally cleaned to help ensure that other children do not contract the illness. Because we are a co-op and not a school, if a child becomes sick in this manner, the specific UHC family may be required to pay the cost of the cleaning.