School Committee Works on Policy on Prescription and Non-Prescription Drugs

Watertown students will be able to take both prescription and non-prescription medicine to school themselves if they get proper approval from their doctor and parents.

The School Committee considered a change the district’s policy on administering medicine.

The changes clarified that prescription drugs can be taken by going to the nurses office, or if the nurse not at school by going to the school office.

The proposal, however, was confusing when it came to over-the-counter medicine, said School Committee Vice Chairman John Portz.

He was concerned that the language, that said that non-prescription medicine can only be administered by the nurse.

Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald said it is rare for the nurse not to be at school.

This worried Town Councilor Vincent Piccirilli, who attended the School Committee meeting. He said he knows of a situation where a student has a food allergy and can take an over the counter medicine if the student eats the food that could cause an allergic reaction, and if that does not work, then an EpiPen, which gives a dose of Epinephrine to make sure the student can breath.

Right now, Piccirilli said, the student can use the EpiPen when a nurse is not around, but not the over-the-counter medicine. He noted if an EpiPen is used the student will have to go to hospital.

School Committee Chairman Eileen Hsu-Balzer said suggested new wording be added to make sure non-prescription medicine can be taken if the nurse is not around.

“Perhaps we should consult our attorney before we adopt the policy,” Hsu-Balzer said.