Nearly a half dozen Lowcountry students have been diagnosed with MRSA in as many weeks. The latest case comes from James Island Charter High School.

As a parent, you would expect to be notified, right? Today, the principal of James Island told us he did not initially tell parents because that case of MRSA wasn't contracted at school.

So, what is the policy? ABC News 4 did a little digging around.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) does not make decisions about parent notification on student illnesses.  Only when doctors see clusters of an illness are they required to notify DHEC.  Even then DHEC is not responsible for notifying parents.  Notifying parents is the school's choice.  A school, however, may not be notified of a single outbreak as doctors are only required to notify clusters of outbreaks.  Each of the Lowcountry cases has been isolated.

"It scares me considering I have two kids involved in sports. There's no way parents would know anything about it unless they read the paper, or watch the news," said JICHS grandmother Betsy Roy.

Betsy Roy spent another night watching high school football. She says she told her grandkids about the recent MRSA case, not the school.

"I think they should have sent a notice out with that one, and let everybody know there's something they should keep an eye out for," added Roy.

Roy was told the school sent automated calls out late this evening despite the fact that this was an isolated event.  With isolated outbreaks there is no definite reason to believe the outbreak was contracted on school premises.

"We're talking about the difference between a personal health problem, and a public health threat, and that's a big leap," said Clair Boatwright with DHEC.

James Island Charter High School Principal Robert Bohnstengel went the extra step of calling parents anyway.

"I thought it was in the best interest of the community and the school people to notify and tell them they were not at risk," said Bohnstengel."

Trojan Mom Darla Rice was pleased with the principal's decison.

"Knowing the structure of the school, they really put a lot of thought and concern into this," said Darla Rice.

Principal Robert Bohnstengel says his student is still being treated at a hospital.