Health Services

In order to attend school, students must show they are in compliance with Minnesota State Immunization Requirements. A copy of the student's current immunization record must be on file, at school. 

Students may receive legal exemption from the immunization law for medical reasons or conscientiously held belief. It is necessary to provide a notarized exemption form to the health office in order to fulfill state requirements. Exemption documentation can be submitted on the immunizations record as noted above. A new exemption form may be required when immunization requirements change.

 

Scheduling Immunizations

It is recommended that parents call their children's physicians to schedule immunization appointments. For those families without a personal physician, you may contact one of the following:

• Health Resource Center at Brooklyn Center Secondary. Call 763-314-8374 to schedule an appointment or ask questions.
• Hennepin County Immunization services Call 612-543-5555 to schedule an appointment. All immunizations will be provided at the Hennepin County Public Health Clinic, Health Services Building, 525 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis.
• Park Nicollet Clinic offers immunizations through the No Shots No, School program (barrier-free immunizations form).

Parents may also contact their school's health office for further information.

Contact
District School Nurse
Debbie Erickson, RN, BSN, LSN
(763) 561-2120 x3203
derickson1@bccs286.org

Brooklyn Center Elementary School
Jessica Nelson RN, MSN, LSN
(763) 561-2120 x2009
jnelson@bccs286.org

Diagnosis, treatment of illness, and/or prescribing drugs and medications are the responsibility of physicians, not school personnel. School personnel will dispense only medications that have been prescribed by a health care provider. When possible, medication doses should be given at home to avoid interruptions in the school day.
If medication is needed during the school day:

Parents/guardians must inform the building school nurse. Students observed by school personnel self-administering unauthorized medications shall be reported to their parents/guardians.

A Medication authorization form is required for the administration of all medications. The form must include the student's name, diagnosis, name of medication, dosage information, time to be given, and signatures of parent/guardian and physician.

All medication must be provided in pharmacy-labeled containers that indicate pharmacy name and telephone number, student's name, physician, and name and dosage of medication. Parents/guardians should ask the pharmacy to split medication into duplicate bottles if it is necessary to give medication during school hours. One bottle will be kept at home and the other at school under the care of school authorities.

Students will be allowed to carry and self-administer medications only with permission and a completed medication self-carry form.

Over-the-counter medicines will be administered to students only with a completed over-the-counter medication form. Over-the-counter medications must be in the original container.

Forms
Brooklyn Center Elementary Authorization for the Administration of Medication: Treatment form

Brooklyn Center Middle and High School Authorization for the Administration of Medication: Treatment form

Brooklyn Center Community Schools Authorization for Administration of Over-the-Counter and Nonprescription Medications and Treatments form

Health is an important component of academic success. Please keep your child home from school if the student has experienced:

• a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher in the past 24 hours (without the use of fever reducing medication)
• vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours
• a new, undiagnosed rash
• pus-like eye drainage
• symptoms of severe illness such as unusual fatigue, uncontrolled cough, and difficulty breathing
• feeling ill enough that he or she would not be able to benefit from being at school

Please contact your school's health office if you have questions.

Contacting Parents and Guardians

If your child becomes ill at school and needs to go home, Health Services staff will attempt to contact the parent or guardian listed.

The additional designated emergency contact will be contacted if we feel your child needs to go home and we are unable to reach a parent or guardian.

Your child will not be allowed to leave the school with someone other than who is listed.

Your child will not be allowed to leave school without contacting and verifying with an adult.

911 will be called in the event of a medical emergency. The school will then attempt to make contact with the parent or guardian listed.

If your child has been diagnosed with a health condition, please contact the school's health office to discuss when your child will be able to return to school. Please refer to the Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools for more information on specific health conditions and exclusion guidelines for the specific communicable conditions such as:

• strep throat
• pertussis
• ringworm
• chickenpox
• fifth disease
• lice
• many other conditions 

Reporting Absences

Absences must be reported to the school to be considered an excused absence. Report your child's absence each day your child is ill by calling the attendance line at the school. Please report the child’s name, teacher or grade and reason for the absence. If your child is ill, report the symptoms and/or any diagnosed communicable condition.

Brooklyn Center Elementary School Attendance Line:
763-561-4480 x6500

Brooklyn Center Middle and High School Attendance Line:
763-450-3383

Early College Academy Attendance Line:
763 450-3383

Please contact the school Health Office if your child has any injury or illness that will require modifications in his or her school day prior to returning to school. If your child is absent and the school has not received notification of the absence, the school will send an automatic message to the designated contact person.

If you would like to report an absence via ParentVue, please click here.

Physical Education Excusal

Please send a request to the teacher if your child needs to be excused from physical education. Written instructions are required from the student's physician if the student is to be excused for more than one day.

Recess excusal

Please send a request to the teacher if your child needs to stay indoors for recess. Written instructions are required from the student's physician if the student is to be excused for more than two days.

BCCS’s Respiratory Virus Response Protocols: Updated June 2025

For Staff: 

• After a positive Respiratory virus test, positive COVID Test, or positive Influenza Test, you may return to work when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication. 

• Upon returning to work, staff should wear a mask and be mindful of keeping distance from others as much as possible for 5 days. 

• Please inform the Health Service Manager, Debbie Erickson, at derickson1@bccs286.org for COVID tracking purposes. 

For Students: 

• After a positive Respiratory virus test, positive COVID Test, or positive Influenza Test, students may return to school when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication. 

• Upon returning to school, students should wear a mask and be mindful of keeping distance from others as much as possible for 5 days.

• Please inform the attendance line about the positive test for COVID tracking purposes and contact the school nurse with questions. 

 

To participate in Minnesota State High School League athletics, students must have an updated sports physical on file with the school district.

25-26 Sports Physical Form