Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.uticaod.com/education/x826023801/Four-Oneida-County-schools-hit-hard-by-flu-absences
Mystery: Which 4 Oneida Co. schools have high flu-related absences?
Officials quiet; parents say public needs to be informed
By REBECCA CRONISER
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Oct 23, 2009 @ 12:01 AM
At a time when many parents are concerned about the H1N1 virus, at least four Oneida County schools are reporting high levels of absences due to influenza-like illnesses, Health Department officials said Thursday.
But the names of the schools remain a mystery ? county Health Department officials say releasing the information could cause alarm.
Some parents and an open government expert, however, say leaving the public in the dark could have that unintended effect.
?The health of my children is my business, and I should have the option to react any way I see fit,? said Utica mom Heather Aldridge, who has two children in public schools. ?Even if that means I panic by their standards.?
Cathe Bullwinkle, Oneida County Health Department quality assurance coordinator, said all schools in the county are seeing increased absences, some of which could be attributed to H1N1, or swine flu.
She defined the high levels at the four schools ? which are spread throughout the county ? as 10 percent above the absentee rate this time last year. One school has more than 30 percent of its students absent, she said.
Still, she wouldn?t release more specific information.
?It?s really been our policy since the spring because it tends to create panic where there isn?t really a reason,? Bullwinkle said.
The silence
Robert Freeman, executive director for the state Committee on Open Government, said trying to prevent panic is not a good reason for not notifying the public about flu or other illness outbreaks.
?I don?t believe the fear expressed by the public justifies that kind of stance,? Freeman said.
?All government records are available with certain exceptions, and this would not fall under any of those exceptions.?
He said the knowledge also could lead to more precautions among parents.
The O-D has filed a Freedom of Information Law request for information about the districts with high rates of student absenteeism.
Oneida County Health Department public information officer Ken Fanelli said it is up to the individual school districts to notify parents, as has been past practice over the years when it has come to other communicable diseases.
?If schools choose to notify, that is their option,? he said. ?But the concern is that perhaps we will alarm other parents.?
The state Department of Health has begun to track student absentee rates, but a spokesman said few districts are reporting to the voluntary program.
Gary Connor of Whitesboro said keeping residents informed is important.
?I don?t think parents would panic, but it would help to make informed decisions,? he said.
Districts react
Earlier this year, the West Canada Valley and Herkimer schools districts coped with swine flu outbreaks. Each district reported daily rates of student attendance to the public and media to keep residents informed.
West Canada Superintendent Ken Slentz said at the time that the media helped educate the public about what was going on in his district and dispelled rumors. He could not be reached Thursday.
His district of 785 students had more than 200 students absent at one point ? about 40 percent of those were estimated to be because of parent concern.
Herkimer BOCES Deputy Superintendent Mark Vivacqua said Slentz? handling of the first area school outbreak was an example to follow.
?There were levels of panic and concern at West Canada because that was the first place to see this,? Vivacqua said. ?But people saw West Canada go through it, and I think there is less concern out there because they saw it was handled well.?
New Hartford Superintendent Robert Nole said his district is seeing between 5 percent and 10 percent of students out sick.
?It?s a little above normal, but nothing I would call excessive at this point,? he said.
He said the district has no plans to notify parents of absentee rates, but he said the district is putting together a communication to update parents on the precautions being taken at the district?s schools.
Herkimer County
In Herkimer County, Public Health Director Gregory O?Keefe said the Dolgeville Central School District had a student test positive for H1N1, but the absences in that district are comparable to those in other districts.
Health officials also are working under the assumption that any cases of the flu are the H1N1 virus.
?There continues to be (high) levels of flu-like activity in every school,? O?Keefe said.
Bullwinkle agreed most schools have had instances of flu.
?This is very widespread,? Bullwinkle said.
INSET:
VACCINE DELIVERY
Local health officials say they are preparing to deliver H1N1 flu vaccines to schools next month.
* Oneida County, which includes about 36,000 students, only has received about two-thirds of the vaccine supply it was expecting, pushing back how soon school clinics can take place. But Cathe Bullwinkle, Oneida County Health Department quality assurance coordinator, said the deliveries will go to schools with a demand that the department can supply.
Schools to the north will be first on the list to try to avoid bad weather on vaccine days.
* In Herkimer County, Public Health Director Gregory O?Keefe said officials will meet with school representatives today to discuss the school vaccine clinics.
Mystery: Which 4 Oneida Co. schools have high flu-related absences?
Officials quiet; parents say public needs to be informed
By REBECCA CRONISER
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Oct 23, 2009 @ 12:01 AM
At a time when many parents are concerned about the H1N1 virus, at least four Oneida County schools are reporting high levels of absences due to influenza-like illnesses, Health Department officials said Thursday.
But the names of the schools remain a mystery ? county Health Department officials say releasing the information could cause alarm.
Some parents and an open government expert, however, say leaving the public in the dark could have that unintended effect.
?The health of my children is my business, and I should have the option to react any way I see fit,? said Utica mom Heather Aldridge, who has two children in public schools. ?Even if that means I panic by their standards.?
Cathe Bullwinkle, Oneida County Health Department quality assurance coordinator, said all schools in the county are seeing increased absences, some of which could be attributed to H1N1, or swine flu.
She defined the high levels at the four schools ? which are spread throughout the county ? as 10 percent above the absentee rate this time last year. One school has more than 30 percent of its students absent, she said.
Still, she wouldn?t release more specific information.
?It?s really been our policy since the spring because it tends to create panic where there isn?t really a reason,? Bullwinkle said.
The silence
Robert Freeman, executive director for the state Committee on Open Government, said trying to prevent panic is not a good reason for not notifying the public about flu or other illness outbreaks.
?I don?t believe the fear expressed by the public justifies that kind of stance,? Freeman said.
?All government records are available with certain exceptions, and this would not fall under any of those exceptions.?
He said the knowledge also could lead to more precautions among parents.
The O-D has filed a Freedom of Information Law request for information about the districts with high rates of student absenteeism.
Oneida County Health Department public information officer Ken Fanelli said it is up to the individual school districts to notify parents, as has been past practice over the years when it has come to other communicable diseases.
?If schools choose to notify, that is their option,? he said. ?But the concern is that perhaps we will alarm other parents.?
The state Department of Health has begun to track student absentee rates, but a spokesman said few districts are reporting to the voluntary program.
Gary Connor of Whitesboro said keeping residents informed is important.
?I don?t think parents would panic, but it would help to make informed decisions,? he said.
Districts react
Earlier this year, the West Canada Valley and Herkimer schools districts coped with swine flu outbreaks. Each district reported daily rates of student attendance to the public and media to keep residents informed.
West Canada Superintendent Ken Slentz said at the time that the media helped educate the public about what was going on in his district and dispelled rumors. He could not be reached Thursday.
His district of 785 students had more than 200 students absent at one point ? about 40 percent of those were estimated to be because of parent concern.
Herkimer BOCES Deputy Superintendent Mark Vivacqua said Slentz? handling of the first area school outbreak was an example to follow.
?There were levels of panic and concern at West Canada because that was the first place to see this,? Vivacqua said. ?But people saw West Canada go through it, and I think there is less concern out there because they saw it was handled well.?
New Hartford Superintendent Robert Nole said his district is seeing between 5 percent and 10 percent of students out sick.
?It?s a little above normal, but nothing I would call excessive at this point,? he said.
He said the district has no plans to notify parents of absentee rates, but he said the district is putting together a communication to update parents on the precautions being taken at the district?s schools.
Herkimer County
In Herkimer County, Public Health Director Gregory O?Keefe said the Dolgeville Central School District had a student test positive for H1N1, but the absences in that district are comparable to those in other districts.
Health officials also are working under the assumption that any cases of the flu are the H1N1 virus.
?There continues to be (high) levels of flu-like activity in every school,? O?Keefe said.
Bullwinkle agreed most schools have had instances of flu.
?This is very widespread,? Bullwinkle said.
INSET:
VACCINE DELIVERY
Local health officials say they are preparing to deliver H1N1 flu vaccines to schools next month.
* Oneida County, which includes about 36,000 students, only has received about two-thirds of the vaccine supply it was expecting, pushing back how soon school clinics can take place. But Cathe Bullwinkle, Oneida County Health Department quality assurance coordinator, said the deliveries will go to schools with a demand that the department can supply.
Schools to the north will be first on the list to try to avoid bad weather on vaccine days.
* In Herkimer County, Public Health Director Gregory O?Keefe said officials will meet with school representatives today to discuss the school vaccine clinics.