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Schools

PAUSD Addresses Cystic Fibrosis Flap

An associate superintendent explains why the district chose to transfer a student who carries the cystic fibrosis gene, but doesn't have the disease.

On Wednesday, Patch reported on a controversy that’s developed over the Palo Alto Unified School District’s decision to transfer a student who carries the cystic fibrosis gene. The boy is being transferred from Jordan to Terman Middle School. The parents of the child who was transferred are going to court in an attempt to block the transfer.

Patch requested a statement from the school district. In the interest of fairness, the statement from Associate Superintendent Charles Young is reproduced here in its entirety:

“The Palo Alto Unified School District strives to meet the needs of all students and to ensure that a safe and welcoming learning environment is provided for all our students and staff. To be clear, this commitment includes caring for our students with medical needs.

“At this time, our District serves students who are diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a serious medical condition that creates a need for our staff to observe strict protocols on cleanliness in order to help protect these students' fragile condition. I am proud that our staff energetically and compassionately works to observe the necessary protocols for these students. Further, I am proud that our staff thoughtfully embraces these, and all, students.

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"A recent story that appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle addresses the distance -- the literal physical distance -- that must be constantly maintained between children with CF in order to avoid bacterial cross contamination. I want to stress that medical authorities clarify that CF is not a health threat to the general public (a theme that was touched on in the story), but it is a topic of concern for non-sibling children with CF.

“As background, at the beginning of this school year, we became aware that students (not related) with CF were on the same middle school campus. Based on the advice of medical experts, who stress the need for non-sibling CF patients to constantly maintain a specific distance from each other, we thought it best to place the students at different campuses. Again, based on the advice of medical experts, this is the zero risk option, and most certainly helps our District deliver on its commitment to provide safe learning environments.

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“We asked the family of the student who is new to our District if they would consider moving their child to Terman Middle School. We asked because Board policy gives priority site choice to students who are established at a site, and the other students have been with our District for years. Sadly, it was this request that caused the controversy, and the media coverage.

“I want to stress a few critical points.

“First, at both of these schools the dedicated staff are stepping up and working to provide these students with excellent learning environments. We are grateful for their professionalism and compassion.

“Second, we are education professionals, not medical experts. I assure you that we will take action based on recommendations from medical authorities. Expert advice will be balanced by the PAUSD Board policy that strictly instructs our District to ensure we provide a safe learning environment for all students. To be clear, our Board of Education places the highest priority on student safety, in all situations and in protecting the privacy interests of all students.

"Finally, we must be honest about the fact that we are talking about public schools, not medical facilities. We will strive to implement all health and safety protocols to help protect the health of these children; however, the harsh reality of a busy middle school campus, where students ranging in ages from 12 to 15 share a cafeteria, restrooms, the gym and locker room, a library and other settings, is that it might be virtually impossible to maintain a specified separation and sanitation protocols at all times. This reality is what made us gravitate to the separate campus option. CF is a life-threatening condition, and in this context, based on the information provided to us at the time by all parties, we believed that zero risk was the best course of action. We hoped that these families would agree.

“This topic is understandably emotional for the families involved, and we will work with them to meet the needs of their children. However, I must again stress that we will follow the advice of medical experts, who we trust will help us understand the option that eliminates, if possible, all risks.”

Sincerely,

Charles F. Young, Ed.D.
Associate Superintendent Education Services
Palo Alto Unified School District

 

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