Pathfinder
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School absences rise due to H1N1 concerns
Posted: Sep 03, 2009 9:16 AM CDT
By Barbara Czura -
MARSHALL COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- Parents, who are notified of H1N1 cases in their child's school, are facing a difficult decision. The can either send the student to school and possibly expose them to the virus or keep them home and put them behind in their school work.
Arab City Schools Superintendent John Mullins said he has 17 students in the Arab school system who have the H1N1 virus.
With that number on the rise, Mullins said school absences are also growing.
"We normally average 98 percent attendance, and we are right about 90 percent," he said.
Mullins said the Arab city school system policy allows each student ten absences, but under these circumstances, he said they're being flexible.
"That's board policy we cannot change that, but I want the public to know, and the parents in Arab, that we will use common sense and leniency. We don't want sick children at school," said Mullins.
He said there are four types of student absences. The first type is those that are sick with swine flu; The second is those with a cold; The third type is children whose parents fear they will get sick; and the fourth is students taking advantage of the situation.
Regardless of the stats, Mullins wants parents to know the school system will work with them during this difficult time.
He said, "We don't want children, who are ill, to be at school . That is one of our best mechanisms to prevent the spread of any virus."
Mullins said that on October 26th, they will offer H1N1 vaccinations for all students with parental consent. He hopes it will help decrease the number of absences.
http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?s=11040299&clienttype=printable
Posted: Sep 03, 2009 9:16 AM CDT
By Barbara Czura -
MARSHALL COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- Parents, who are notified of H1N1 cases in their child's school, are facing a difficult decision. The can either send the student to school and possibly expose them to the virus or keep them home and put them behind in their school work.
Arab City Schools Superintendent John Mullins said he has 17 students in the Arab school system who have the H1N1 virus.
With that number on the rise, Mullins said school absences are also growing.
"We normally average 98 percent attendance, and we are right about 90 percent," he said.
Mullins said the Arab city school system policy allows each student ten absences, but under these circumstances, he said they're being flexible.
"That's board policy we cannot change that, but I want the public to know, and the parents in Arab, that we will use common sense and leniency. We don't want sick children at school," said Mullins.
He said there are four types of student absences. The first type is those that are sick with swine flu; The second is those with a cold; The third type is children whose parents fear they will get sick; and the fourth is students taking advantage of the situation.
Regardless of the stats, Mullins wants parents to know the school system will work with them during this difficult time.
He said, "We don't want children, who are ill, to be at school . That is one of our best mechanisms to prevent the spread of any virus."
Mullins said that on October 26th, they will offer H1N1 vaccinations for all students with parental consent. He hopes it will help decrease the number of absences.
http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?s=11040299&clienttype=printable