Numerous area schools now reporting 10 percent absent

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Numerous area schools now reporting 10 percent absent

By K.C. Mehaffey
World staff writer

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

WENATCHEE ? Fifteen schools in Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties have now reported a 10 percent absenteeism or greater ? a sign that flu season is here, health officials say.

Three schools in Wenatchee ? including Wenatchee High School ? and schools in Entiat, Orondo and Cashmere reported that at least 10 percent of their students were not in school at least one day since last Thursday, said Mary Small, Chelan Douglas Health District?s director of community health and preparedness.

In Grant County, 17 percent of high school students in Grand Coulee Dam were absent on Monday. Nine schools in five Grant County school districts have seen higher than 10 percent absenteeism in the past few weeks, said Peggy Grigg, administrator of the Grant County Health District.

No schools in Okanogan County have yet seen a 10 percent absenteeism due to cold and flu-like symptoms, but Lauri Jones, health district community health director, said she expects that to change soon.

Already, Washington and 25 other states have widespread influenza-like illnesses reported during the week ending Sept. 26, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The high ab sent rates are no cause for alarm, and schools won?t likely consider closing unless 20 to 25 percent of students call in sick, Small said.

She said flu season usually hits North Central Washington in January or February, but it?s early this year because of the H1N1, or swine flu.

The good news, she said, is that symptoms are relatively mild in most people. But most young people have not been exposed to this flu and are more likely to catch it, she said.

To help prevent widespread illness, health officials stress: wash your hands frequently, cover your cough, stay home when you?re sick and don?t return to work or school for at least 24 hours after a high temperature has returned to normal.


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Re: Numerous area schools now reporting 10 percent absent

Schools still seeing high absence rates

By Rachel Schleif
World staff writer

Thursday, October 15, 2009


ORONDO ? Only a third of Robin Gahringer?s first-grade class called in sick Wednesday at Orondo Elementary.

The room bustled with sounds of wooden blocks, buttons in a can and children counting ?six, seven, eight? at their work tables. Two days ago, half the class was absent.

?It does seem to be the kids who are together a lot during the day,? Gahringer said, referring to a table with empty chairs.

In the classroom next door, half of Kim Hoofnagles class was absent. The seven remaining children spent the last hour of the day quietly reading, coloring or making up work they missed when they were sick. Hand sanitizer graced every table.

At the end of the day, the children helped Hoofnagle wipe down all of the chairs and tables before grabbing their coats to leave.

?One student told me there was nobody on the bus this morning,? Gahringer said after class.

?Mine walk in wondering how many are gone today,? Hoofnagle added. ?They?re definitely noticing the impact.?

For the last two weeks, both teachers have had to put their core curriculum plans on hold as their students have come down with the flu. The teachers are confident they?ll catch up eventually.

Since early October, dozens of North Central Washingtion schools reached more than 10 percent absenteeism, which requires consultation with county health departments.

In Chelan and Douglas counties, eight schools reported high absentee rates on Monday, including Vale Elementary at 26 percent and Cashmere Middle School at 17 percent. Wenatchee, Entiat, Manson and Waterville schools also reported 11 to 13 percent absences.

Orondo Elementary was hardest hit with 36 percent of its 200 students out sick on Monday. The school sent sick children home, scrubbed down surfaces and passed around hand sanitizer.

By Wednesday, the absentee rate dropped to about 22 percent, which Superintendent Millie Watkins hopes is a sign the worst is over.

?I?ve never in my career seen a situation with this level absenteeism,? said Watkins, who has worked in education for more than 30 years. She said 5 to 7 percent is a normal rate for October.

There was talk of closing, Watkins said, but the Chelan-Douglas Health District recommended the school stay open for three reasons:

? The flu affected a smaller percent of the staff, which means school can still run on schedule.

? Closure will not stop the flu from spreading because students will continue to contact siblings, friends and neighbors at home.

? Staff have taken several measures to contain spreading germs, including disinfecting surfaces, making sure students wash their hands and sending sick children home immediately.

The health district advised Cashmere?s Vale Elementary to stay open for the same reasons, even though a quarter of its 526 students were absent Monday, said Superintendent Glenn Johnson.

?The bottom line is we?re going to follow the recommendations of the health district,? Johnson said. He also consulted with other school districts and the North Central Educational Service District, which are following similar standards.

The absentee rate peaked on Monday at Cashmere elementary and middle schools, said district nurse Susan Day. On Wednesday, the high school peaked at nearly 23 percent, which was due in part by activities and other illness, including strep throat.

?Our number one concern is that kids get well,? Johnson said. ?Number two, we can worry about how to catch them up on things they missed.?

As the Cashmere School District hires extra janitorial help to deep-clean the school more often, district officials are also asking parents to help by making arrangements for their sick children to stay home until they?re symptom-free.

?We?re going to stay the course and continue taking steps we?re doing,? Johnson said. ?We?re asking for parents and kids to do their part too.?


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