http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article...S?Title=Attalla-schools-hit-hard-by-swine-flu
Attalla schools hit hard by swine flu
By Lisa Rogers
Times Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
About 170 students were out Tuesday at Etowah High School — many of those with swine flu, said Ray Landers, acting superintendent at Attalla City Schools. That’s about 27 percent of the school enrollment.
“Our absenteeism has swelled in the last three or four days,” Landers said Tuesday. “It looks like this is hitting us extremely hard.”
So far, the H1N1 flu has not struck in Gadsden City and Etowah County schools as hard as in Attalla City Schools.
There were 10 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu Monday scattered throughout all the county schools, Superintendent Mike Bailey said. There were 12 confirmed cases in the first two weeks of school, he said. The enrollment in all schools is 9,100.
“We’ve instructed our custodial staff to take extra cleaning measures,” Bailey said. “Right now we’re holding our own. We’ve doing everything we know to do and we hope it doesn’t spread.”
Ed Miller, superintendent of Gadsden City Schools, said there doesn’t seem to be a large concentration of absenteeism at city schools. However, there have been some suspected cases of H1N1.
“We’re trying to be proactive,” he said, noting that additional soap, paper towels, hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies have been taken to all the schools.
Landers said there is concern that the flu will spread because students from the Attalla system interact with students from other school systems at church and other activities.
Landers said there were about 170 students out both Monday and Tuesday at Etowah High School and the enrollment is about 640 students. Even though the Alabama Department of Public Health is no longer monitoring specific numbers because the illness is so widespread, Landers said many of those out with the flu have been tested and determined to have H1N1.
He said all the absentees are not related to H1N1. There also are some cases of stomach virus, sinus infections and other illnesses. Some of the absentees are well students whose parents are not allowing them to attend because of fear of the spread of the flu, he said.
Two teachers at the high school have had the H1N1 flu, he said.
“We’re lucky that it doesn’t appear to be spreading among our staff,” he said.
So far, no classes or extracurricular activities have been canceled, he said.
“We’re following the protocols,” he said. “Right now the state is not recommending any closing or cancellations. They’re leaving it up to each individual school.
“If we didn’t have enough teachers there, we’d take that into consideration,” he said.
Landers said 30 to 40 students were out week before last at the middle school level and the elementary schools had between 20 and 25 students out last week.
Once the H1N1 flu started at the high school, the numbers increased dramatically, he said.
It is a recommendation of the Alabama Department of Education not to require doctor’s excuses for those out of school.
“We’re telling those who are sick not to come to school,” he said. “Those who become sick, we’re immediately isolating them and calling parents to come and get them.”
Etowah High Principal John Serafini said those with the illness feel terrible, with fever, headaches, body aches and other symptoms.
“There’s no faking this,” he said.
A high fever is one of the main symptoms.
Landers said school officials, based on advice from the Alabama Department of Public Health, are telling those who have been sick to be without a fever for 24 hours before returning to school.
Most who have had the H1N1 flu have been sick for five to seven days, Landers said.
“It hits you like a truck,” he said. “After you recover, you still are wiped out. It takes a while to get your feet back under you.”
To fight the spread of the virus, surfaces are being wiped and sprayed several times a day, “probably hourly,” Landers said.
In the lunchroom — which is self serve — serving spoons are being changed out between each class, he said.
“We’re wiping down bus seats, water fountains...” he said. “It’s just a battle right now. We’re doing everything we can to fight this.”
Students are being taught to cough into their sleeve or the crook of their arms, and extra soap and hand sanitizers are being delivered to the schools, Landers said.
Landers said the state department of education also has assured him that special consideration will be given when calculating Adequate Yearly Progress, which is based on student attendance.
Right now, the safety of the students is the biggest concern.
“We’re going to get through this OK,” he said. “We can make up what these kids are missing, and all students’ safety is our No. 1 priority.”
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Attalla schools hit hard by swine flu
By Lisa Rogers
Times Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:10 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 9:12 p.m.
About 170 students were out Tuesday at Etowah High School — many of those with swine flu, said Ray Landers, acting superintendent at Attalla City Schools. That’s about 27 percent of the school enrollment.
“Our absenteeism has swelled in the last three or four days,” Landers said Tuesday. “It looks like this is hitting us extremely hard.”
So far, the H1N1 flu has not struck in Gadsden City and Etowah County schools as hard as in Attalla City Schools.
There were 10 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu Monday scattered throughout all the county schools, Superintendent Mike Bailey said. There were 12 confirmed cases in the first two weeks of school, he said. The enrollment in all schools is 9,100.
“We’ve instructed our custodial staff to take extra cleaning measures,” Bailey said. “Right now we’re holding our own. We’ve doing everything we know to do and we hope it doesn’t spread.”
Ed Miller, superintendent of Gadsden City Schools, said there doesn’t seem to be a large concentration of absenteeism at city schools. However, there have been some suspected cases of H1N1.
“We’re trying to be proactive,” he said, noting that additional soap, paper towels, hand sanitizers and cleaning supplies have been taken to all the schools.
Landers said there is concern that the flu will spread because students from the Attalla system interact with students from other school systems at church and other activities.
Landers said there were about 170 students out both Monday and Tuesday at Etowah High School and the enrollment is about 640 students. Even though the Alabama Department of Public Health is no longer monitoring specific numbers because the illness is so widespread, Landers said many of those out with the flu have been tested and determined to have H1N1.
He said all the absentees are not related to H1N1. There also are some cases of stomach virus, sinus infections and other illnesses. Some of the absentees are well students whose parents are not allowing them to attend because of fear of the spread of the flu, he said.
Two teachers at the high school have had the H1N1 flu, he said.
“We’re lucky that it doesn’t appear to be spreading among our staff,” he said.
So far, no classes or extracurricular activities have been canceled, he said.
“We’re following the protocols,” he said. “Right now the state is not recommending any closing or cancellations. They’re leaving it up to each individual school.
“If we didn’t have enough teachers there, we’d take that into consideration,” he said.
Landers said 30 to 40 students were out week before last at the middle school level and the elementary schools had between 20 and 25 students out last week.
Once the H1N1 flu started at the high school, the numbers increased dramatically, he said.
It is a recommendation of the Alabama Department of Education not to require doctor’s excuses for those out of school.
“We’re telling those who are sick not to come to school,” he said. “Those who become sick, we’re immediately isolating them and calling parents to come and get them.”
Etowah High Principal John Serafini said those with the illness feel terrible, with fever, headaches, body aches and other symptoms.
“There’s no faking this,” he said.
A high fever is one of the main symptoms.
Landers said school officials, based on advice from the Alabama Department of Public Health, are telling those who have been sick to be without a fever for 24 hours before returning to school.
Most who have had the H1N1 flu have been sick for five to seven days, Landers said.
“It hits you like a truck,” he said. “After you recover, you still are wiped out. It takes a while to get your feet back under you.”
To fight the spread of the virus, surfaces are being wiped and sprayed several times a day, “probably hourly,” Landers said.
In the lunchroom — which is self serve — serving spoons are being changed out between each class, he said.
“We’re wiping down bus seats, water fountains...” he said. “It’s just a battle right now. We’re doing everything we can to fight this.”
Students are being taught to cough into their sleeve or the crook of their arms, and extra soap and hand sanitizers are being delivered to the schools, Landers said.
Landers said the state department of education also has assured him that special consideration will be given when calculating Adequate Yearly Progress, which is based on student attendance.
Right now, the safety of the students is the biggest concern.
“We’re going to get through this OK,” he said. “We can make up what these kids are missing, and all students’ safety is our No. 1 priority.”
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.