Woman wants school to toughen lice policy

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Updated: January 23, 2012 10:53PM

BLOOMINGTON (AP) — A southern Indiana woman is challenging her school district’s head lice policy, saying stricter rules are needed to prevent the spread of lice.

Crystal Carter blames her elementary-school daughter’s repeated bouts with head lice on what she calls the Monroe County Community School Corp.’s lax policy on lice. For four years, the district has allowed children with nits — or lice eggs — to stay in school.

But Carter is circulating a petition among parents in her child’s school in hopes that the district will create a stricter head lice policy.

District director of Student Services Becky Rose said she understands parents’ concerns.

But Rose says that since lice do not carry any disease and are treatable, there’s no real reason to exclude students from school.