October 28, 2020
To the Sanford School Community,
Recently there has been significant discussion in the Sanford community regarding the Sanford School Department’s program to offer free flu shots to students and I want to clarify this program for those who may have questions.
For the past several years, the School Department has contracted with Northern Light Home Care and Hospice to provide free flu shots to students whose parents signed permission forms. This year, over 300 flu shots were provided to students. Unfortunately, the School Department is now aware that three students received a shot without a signed permission form. Apparently the provider administering the shot from Northern Light Home Care and Hospice did not notice that the forms had not been signed by a parent/guardian and in one situation the form had been completed and signed but crossed out.
I apologize on behalf of the Sanford School Department. This situation has caused us to re-assess and re-examine our flu shot process going forward to make sure it is even clearer and more consistent, but most importantly to ensure that this does not happen again.
Sincerely,
Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools