Director of Student Services and Human Resources
630-279-8400 x1005
STUDENT SERVICES
Our philosophy is simple: kids should get what they need. Students who have access to proper supports do better in school and develop the tools needed to succeed in life. Salt Creek School District 48 is committed to providing a continuum of services to meet the needs of our diverse student population. We recognize each child’s unique needs and partner with families to promote success for all who enter our doors.
Dr. Emily Burnett
STAFF
Mrs. Laura Robertson
Admin. Assist. Student Services
630-279-8400 x1004
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Salt Creek School District 48 offers a continuum of special education and related services to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Special education instruction and services are provided based on a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). A student may be eligible for special education and related services if he or she has a disability that impacts educational performance.
Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an individualized education program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may qualify for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the student (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment.
Questions about the identification, assessment, and placement of students should be directed to the Director of Student Services.
Qualified interpreters are available at IEP meetings upon request for parents/guardians whose native language is other than English. If a qualified interpreter is not available, District 48 may use outside vendors, including telephonic interpreters. Parents and guardians, including those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, may request an interpreter at IEP meetings by contacting the Director of Student Services. Requests for an interpreter at IEP meetings should be made at least 7 days before such meetings whenever possible.
Parents/guardians have the right to request that the bilingual interpreter provided at an IEP meeting serve no other role in the IEP meeting than as the interpreter, and District 48 will make reasonable efforts to fulfill this request. Parents/guardians may contact Dr. Emily Burnett at eburnett@saltcreek48.org or 630-279-8400 ext.1005 with any questions or comments about interpretation services.
Parent Links
Notice of Procedural Safeguards for Parents/Guardians of Students with Disabilities
SECTION 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. Section 504 establishes a student’s right to full access and participation to education and all school-related activities and requires schools to provide appropriate services to meet the individual needs of qualified students.
Students with disabilities who do not qualify for an individualized education program under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may qualify for services under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if the student (i) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (ii) has a record of a physical or mental impairment, or (iii) is regarded as having a physical or mental impairment.
If you believe your child meets one of the above categories and requires reasonable accommodations, please contact your child’s principal.
MCKINNEY-VENTO/HOMELESS ASSISTANCE
The McKinney-Vento Act is designed to address the challenges that homeless children and youths have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. The Illinois State Board of Education considers the school enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth throughout Illinois a high priority. If you and your child lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing, your child may be considered homeless and eligible for support under the McKinney-Vento Act. Homeless children have the right to:
Enroll in school immediately, even without school or medical records
Assistance from the district liaison with fee waivers, community resources, and obtaining immunizations/medical records/other necessary documents
Choose to enroll in the school of origin (the school that a child last attended) or the local school (where other students in the area attend)
Transportation to and from school
Salt Creek School District 48 McKinney-Vento Homeless Liaison:
Dr. Emily Burnett, Director of Student Services and Human Resources
McKinney-Vento Fact Sheet - English McKinney-Vento Fact Sheet - Spanish
EARLY CHILDHOOD / PRESCHOOL SCREENING
Salt Creek Primary School conducts developmental screenings for children ages 3-5 throughout the year. These screenings are free and will provide you general information about your child’s development. This opportunity is open to all district families, even if your preschool plans are undecided. If you are interested in our preschool program, this is the first step in registering your son/daughter. The screening takes about one hour and families have the opportunity to meet staff on the preschool team. To schedule a screening, please call the Salt Creek Primary School at 630-832-6122.
If you are concerned about your child's development and your child is not yet 3 years old, please contact: Child & Family Connections at 331-481-4263 or visit https://www.dayonepact.org/child_and_family_connections.php
HEALTH SERVICES
Salt Creek School District health offices are staffed with a diverse team of highly educated and dedicated healthcare professionals. Our philosophy is that optimal health is essential for optimal learning. The health office staff promotes wellness through comprehensive health services that focus on the early identification and management of health issues. These services include state-mandated health screening programs like vision and hearing screenings, ensuring immunization status, and reporting infectious diseases. Additionally, we provide care for minor health complaints, administer medications, manage chronic conditions, and respond to emergencies. The main priorities of the school nurse are prioritizing student health and classroom attendance to support academic success.
Danyelle Olsen, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN
Certified District Nurse
Markita Simmons, RN
Registered Nurse
Denise Natalino, CNA
Health Aide
VISION AND HEARING SCHOOL SCREENINGS
Grade-specific annual Vision and/or Hearing Screenings are conducted per Illinois state requirements. Additionally, screenings are conducted for teacher referrals, new students, and students receiving Special Education services. Screenings are also conducted for students with a prior failed screening when the health office has not received documentation of a follow up with a healthcare provider.
MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
Whenever possible, students should take medications at home. Essential medications (prescription and over-the-counter) necessary for the student to stay in school will be administered once the appropriate medication authorization from the parent and physician is obtained. Please see below for requirements.
Prior to administration, any medication (including long-term, short-term, emergency, prescription, and over-the-counter medications) requires the following:
District 48 Medication Authorization Form must be completed by both the parent/guardian and the child’s health care provider.
Medication should be brought to school by an adult.
The prescription must be in its original packaging with the prescription label.
Over-the-counter medication must be in its original packaging. Please mark the packaging with the child’s full name.
Medication Authorization forms need to be renewed annually, or whenever there are medication changes. Forms are available through the health office or by clicking the link below. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s health office.
ACTION PLANS
If your child is diagnosed with Epilepsy, Asthma, or a severe, life-threatening allergy, an action plan should be submitted annually to the health office. Please contact your healthcare provider for an action plan. See below links for sample action plans.
HEALTH EXAMINATIONS AND IMMUNIZATIONS
Preschool, kindergarten, sixth- grade, and students new to Illinois are required to have health examinations and immunizations. The health exam must be dated within one year prior to the first day of school. Please contact your child’s health care provider and/or school health office with any questions.
Sports physicals are required for students who would like to participate in school-sponsored sport activities.
See the current student immunization data here:
Current Student Immunization Data
VISION EXAMINATIONS
Students enrolling in kindergarten or in school for the first time are required to have an eye exam. (The eye exam requirement does not apply to children enrolling in preschool) Each child is required to present proof of examination by a licensed optometrist or medical doctor who performs eye examinations such as an ophthalmologist, prior to October 15th of the school year. The eye exam must be dated within one year prior to the first day of school. The parent of any child who is unable to obtain an examination must submit a waiver form to the school.
DENTAL EXAMINATIONS
The state of Illinois requires all students in kindergarten, 2nd, and 6th grades to have a dental examination. A licensed dentist must complete the exam, sign, and date the Proof of School Dental Examination Form. Each child is required to present proof of examination by a dentist prior to May 15th of the school year. The dental exam must be dated within 18 months prior to the May 15th deadline.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Student accident coverage covers excess medical costs associated with accidents that happen at school and while participating in school-sponsored activities. Please see Student Accident Insurance Website below for more details. Please reach out to your child’s school nurse for additional questions.
Student Accident Insurance Website
Student Accident Insurance Claim Form (English)
Student Accident Insurance Claim Form (Spanish)
Voluntary Student Accident Dental Information
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR SICK CHILD HOME
If you have questions about any of the symptoms your child is exhibiting, please contact your child’s school nurse. Please share with your child’s school nurse any information you think they should know so we may partner with you on your child’s safety, health, and access to learning.
Mild Cold and Allergy Symptoms: If your child has mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, occasional sneezing, or a mild cough, they can typically attend school. Make sure they practice good hygiene, such as covering their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing and washing hands frequently. However, if the symptoms persist or worsen, it's best to consult with a healthcare professional.
Situations Requiring Children to Stay Home from School
Fever: Your child should stay home if they have a fever. A fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4°F or higher. Your child may return to school after their temperature has returned to normal for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Contagious Illness: If your child has a contagious illness such as the flu, strep throat, chickenpox, or COVID-19, it is important to keep them home until they are no longer contagious. Follow return-to-school guidelines from their healthcare provider and inform your child’s school nurse.
Severe Cold or Flu Symptoms: If your child's cold or flu symptoms are severe, such as persistent cough, difficulty breathing, or intense fatigue, it's best to keep them home and consult a healthcare professional.
Vomiting and Diarrhea: It's important to keep children who have had vomiting or diarrhea home to prevent the spread of illness and allow them time to recover. If your child has had vomiting or diarrhea, they may return after 24 hours from the last occurrence.
SASED (the School Association for Special Education in DuPage County) is a special education joint agreement, commonly referred to as a special education cooperative. SASED is comprised of 18 member school districts, who collaborate to provide special education and related services to students with disabilities. As an extension of each member district, SASED creates, provides, and supports a complete continuum of programs and services for students with disabilities ages from 3 through 22. SASED offers special education programs, related services, and professional development to students and staff of its member districts. For more information about SASED programs and services, please visit https://www.sased.org
Salt Creek School District 48 is proud to be a host district for the SASED Visually Impaired Program, which serves students who are blind/visually impaired from the 92 member school districts of DuPage/West Cook Regional Association.
Mental Health Support Services
Students in Crisis
Need help? You are never alone. Mental health resources are available:
Calling or texting ‘988’ will put you directly in touch with counselors who can offer immediate assistance to people who are dealing with addiction, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm, as well as local resources.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255
Our school district will continue to participate in a statewide school safety program called Safe2Help Illinois. This program will offer students a safe and confidential way to share information that may help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence, and other threats to student safety.
Safe2Help Illinois features a 24/7 helpline (1-844-4-SAFEIL), text line (SAFE2), free mobile app, and a dedicated website (www.Safe2Helpil.com). In the absence of a trusted adult, students can use Safe2Help Illinois to share concerns about themselves or others in a confidential environment. Once vetted, the information will be immediately shared with local school officials, 911 call centers/Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) depending on the nature of the information. It is important to note that this program is not intended to punish, suspend, or expel students. Rather, the intent is to encourage students to “seek help before harm,” with the goal of intervening and helping students before they harm themselves or others.
The most common reports received by Safe2Help Illinois in the 2022-2023 school year have been bullying and threats of suicide. This information shows the importance of making sure our students have the resources they need in times of need. While we understand these topics may be hard to approach, we encourage parents to promote open lines of communication with their students. Safe2Help Illinois offers a variety of resources on their website which may make it easier to approach these hard-to-have conversations.
Website: https://app.safe22helpil.com
Text: SAFE2 (72332)
Phone: 844-4-SAFEIL (844-472-3345)
App (Apple & Google): "Safe2Help Illinois"
Email: HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com
Salt Creek CARES (Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement, and Support)
We strive to create a culture of well-being of students, parents, staff and community. Salt Creek School District 48 has launched an innovative program, District 48 CARES (Community, Advocacy, Resilience, Engagement and Support).
In cooperation with the Illinois Department of Health and the DuPage Regional Office of Education, Salt Creek District 48 schools have been awarded grant funds to improve our students’ access to quality mental health services throughout the community.The well-being of students, parents, staff, and the community is one of Salt Creek District 48’s highest priorities.
A significant component of this is mental health. We know it can be challenging to know where to start when looking for mental health resources. This is why District 48 is excited to partner with ReferralGPS, which makes it easier for families, staff, and community members to find the right help for them.
As a family of our District, you and your family have an opportunity to receive mental health treatment free of charge. If you, your child, or another loved one are looking for mental health assistance, you are invited to use the interactive tool at https://referralgps.com/48cares. This free and confidential for Salt Creek District 48 families.
Your privacy matters. District 48 will never receive names/information about who used this service or what services they received. We will only get reports about the number of individuals who used the service.
If you’ve considered seeking help for anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance abuse, grief, eating disorders, or any other reason for yourself or for a loved one, please do not hesitate to utilize this resource.
PUNS (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services)
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) maintains a statewide database known as the PUNS database (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services) that records information about individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities who are potentially in need of services.
IDHS uses the data on PUNS to select individuals for services as funding becomes available, to develop proposals and materials for budgeting, and to plan for future needs. The PUNS database is available for children with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities with unmet service needs.
Registration to be included on the PUNS database is the first step toward receiving developmental disabilities services in this State. A child who is not on the PUNS database will not be in the queue for State developmental disabilities services.
For more information and to sign up for PUNS, see the Illinois Department of Human Services PUNS information page at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=41131.You may also contact: Dr. Emily Burnett, Director of Student Services