Schools dealing with absences due to flu

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Student absences in area schools due to flulike symptoms are at about 10 percent, with the exception of Woodlawn Grade School which had to cancel classes last week.

Officials are crediting health education, taking steps to increase sanitation and following the “3 C’s” with keeping attendance in the 90 percent range.

“We have had a little bit of a hit with absences,” said Bethel Grade School Superintendent Craig Kujawa. “It hasn’t really been substantial to date. Our attendance (on Wednesday) was at 92 percent and about 90 percent has been the lowest this week. Our kids have had more of a stomach ache and low-grade fever and really haven’t had symptoms to the degree other schools may have had.”

Last week, Woodlawn Grade School canceled classes Thursday and Friday due to a number of students who were sick with flulike symptoms with many students registering a fever of 99 degrees or more.

The Jefferson County Health Department reported Wednesday eight cases of the H1N1 virus have been confirmed in the county. However, none of the eight patients were hospitalized as a result of the virus and all have recovered.

The heath department also stated that “many physicians are doing a rapid test for influenza Type A and the 2009 H1N1 is the primary influenza A strain currently in circulation. However, it is generally not necessary to know if the virus is the 2009 H1N1 to treat appropriately.”

“It is critical to keep your child home if they are sick with flulike symptoms,” said Becky Brooks, director of nursing at the health department. “If your child is sick, do not take them to the mall, a friend’s house or anywhere else.”

As a way to keep Bethel Grade School from experiencing absences due to illness, Kujawa said the school has not only emphasized the proper way to wash hands, but also has hand sanitizer in every class. Bethel has also taken additional precautionary measures against the spreading of germs.

“We have been doing extra cleaning since early in the school year, especially since the Illinois School Board of Education put out a letter about the possibility of a bad flu season,” Kujawa said. “The desks, door knobs and water fountains have also received extra cleaning — more so than normal.”

Mt. Vernon District 80 Superintendent Kevin Settle said health education, he believes, has been the key in his district. As of Wednesday, all Mt. Vernon City Schools, with the exception of the Primary Center, have had about 90 percent attendance, with the Primary Center at 95 percent.

“Every student and every teacher has gone through training,” Settle said. “We’ve gone over coughing into your sleeve and washing hands frequently with soap and water. I have met with the staff at the Primary Center and Casey to make sure we all follow precautions and that if staff sees any child with flulike symptoms to send them to the nurse so the student can be isolated until an adult can pick them up.”

Waltonville Grade School Principal Shlonda Horton said while there have been a few confirmed cases of Type A influenza, there have not been any confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus. That school also has extra containers of hand sanitizer and has emphasized extensive handwashing with students, she said.

On Wednesday, Summersville Grade School reported only about 21 students absent.

“Our main concern is when children are sick and have a fever, parents should go ahead and keep them home an additional 24 hours once the fever has been gone without the use of a fever reducer,” Superintendent Anita Hayes said. “We have sent letters to all parents twice, have included information in our newsletter and have had the nurse go into classrooms and talk to the students about washing their hands. We have also posted additional signs around the building reminding students to cover coughs.”

Settle added he believed the education has caused not only students, but parents to be more cautious.

“I think we’re lucky that the flu we’re seeing (now) is a mild flu,” he said. “I think people are more aware of it than in the past and getting the treatment they need and staying home when the need to be staying home.”

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