Mother, School Disagree About Head Lice In/Around: Riverside
Kimmberly Collins is at a loss.
The 25-year-old mother of four has twin daughters in the second grade at Riverside Elementary School. The girls have been sent home 28 times because the school says they have “chronic head lice.”
But family physician Dr. Stan Malnar said he sees no proof of the claim.
“I examined and found no evidence of any lice or other infestations,” Malnar said. He examined them on Feb. 11 and again on March 17 after school officials said they saw nits.
Malnar signed forms allowing the girls back to school. The school continued to inspect the girls even after Malnar said there was no evidence of lice.
Collins said the school is harassing her and her daughters.
“This whole thing is just ridiculous,” Collins said.
But Riverside principal Mike Jordan said the Collins kids have lice and nit problems and they don’t want other kids to be infected.
On March 12, school nurse Jan Kaley and teacher Tammy Matherly checked the girls’ hair. Jordan said approximately 12 nits were found and removed from the hair of one of the girls, and one nit was removed from the other.
Collins doesn’t want the school to inspect the girls anymore, but Jordan said state law allows it.
“We check all classrooms,” Jordan said. “It’s standard procedure. We have a no-nit policy.”
Jordan said he and Kaley have repeatedly removed nits and lice from the twins’ hair.
“We’ve had some problems, but I think we’ve dealt with them,” Kaley said.
The girls are back in school.
The state’s infectious disease control guide for school staff says a no-nit policy can be instituted at the discretion of the school nurse in consultation with the principal.
The girls were going to be inspected at school March 19, but after Collins showed the school Malnar’s note, the inspection was cancelled.
“We’re satisfied with that,” Jordan said. “What’s important is getting the problem resolved. I can understand where she (Collins) would be upset, but the bottom line is, in this building, we have the right to inspect.”
Collins is also angry that Child Protective Services contacted her after her children were inspected at school. Jordan said no one from school called CPS.
Collins is a working, single mother who grew up in the Riverside community. She went to elementary school at Riverside. Jordan was her principal.
Collins said her daughters are ridiculed by classmates because of routine hair inspections.
Raina Sanders, a long-time family friend of Collins, is standing in her corner.
Sanders is self employed, has a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Eastern Washington University and is currently enrolled in EWU’s master’s program.
“I wouldn’t be speaking for Kimmberly if I didn’t think she was a fit mother,” Sanders said. “The school’s behavior is shocking.”
Collins and Sanders wonder if the school doesn’t have ulterior motives.
On Oct. 10 last year, Jordan sent Collins a letter about a meeting he had with her regarding one of the twins’ “recent lack of performance.”
In the letter, Jordan wrote: “Per our previous discussion, we would appreciate your permission to correspond with the physician(s) who have provided her care. An Authorization for Mutual Exchange of Information form is enclosed for your signature.
“Please provide the name of the doctor(s) where indicated. We are looking at the possibility of a health impairment which would qualify her for additional services. This is due to the complications from her being premature at birth.”
Collins denied Jordan’s request. She said the inspections for head lice soon followed.
Jordan denied that the school’s inspections had anything other than to do with the fact that he and Kaley observed head lice.
“A principal and school nurse observe head lice,” Collins said. “Their doctor doesn’t. Gee…. who do you think I’m going to believe?”
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