FLU: Some area school districts are seeing increase in absenteeism

Local News

October 22, 2009

By Joe Olenick<br><a href="mailto:joe.olenick@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Joe</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Thu Oct 22, 2009, 01:12 AM EDT

While both the swine and seasonal flu have been making the rounds in area school districts, only some schools are seeing a change in student attendance.

Lockport city schools have seen an increase in the number of students absent from school, Superintendent Terry Ann Carbone said. Including all grade levels, the district is averaging about 11 percent absenteeism, where normally Lockport sees just under 4 percent.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase in absenteeism because of the flu,” Carbone said.

At the high school and both middle schools, Lockport has had about 12 percent of students absent, while the seven elementary schools are ranging from 3 percent to 10 percent of students absent. Carbone said there hasn’t been anything alarming about the attendance of district staff.

“It coincides with what the CDC has been saying — it’s really affecting the younger people,” she said.

Over in Starpoint, about 180 students were absent in the high school on Monday, up from a usual 60 to 70. Superintendent C. Douglas Whelan said he couldn’t be certain how much of a factor the flu played in the absences. But it makes sense that it is a factor, he said, since both the seasonal flu and H1N1 cases have been confirmed everywhere by the county health department.

Starpoint had five confirmed cases of H1N1, Whelan said, and parents were notified through School Connect, which sends out an automated message.

The district will also act as one of the county health department’s points of dispensing, or PODs, for the H1N1 vaccine. Whelan said Starpoint will hold a flu clinic from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 21 at the high school, 4363 Mapleton Road, Pendleton. The vaccine will only be offered for students and staff and those who live with them. Information has been sent out to parents, including registration forms and tips on healthy habits.

Newfane will also act as a POD. Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski said the district will hold an information night sometime in the near future and before December. The district had two students at the elementary level with confirmed H1N1 cases, and letters were sent home immediately, Pogorzelski said.

The Wilson School District hasn’t seen any significant change in student or staff attendance, Superintendent Michael Wendt said.

“We’ve had kids out ill,” Wendt said. “But it’s not high, it’s probably at par with past flu seasons.”

But a few students are out of school with the flu. Wendt said the district has received feedback from the families that their doctors are saying it’s H1N1, but the district has not received any official confirmation. Wendt said a letter is being sent home to parents in the district.

Royalton-Hartland Superintendent Kevin MacDonald said there haven’t been any confirmed H1N1 cases in Roy-Hart schools. But the seasonal flu has been leaving its mark with students, as there has been an increase in absenteeism.

“This is the first week we’ve seen it,” MacDonald said. “But we haven’t seen it in staff.”

The Barker School District has been lucky so far: No H1N1 cases and only a small amount of the seasonal flu have been reported.

“We’ve been pretty fortunate to this point; hopefully it will continue,” Superintendent Roger Klatt said.

All districts are telling students and staff the same thing the county health department has been telling people. One of the main tips might be contributing to an increase in absenteeism in some schools.

“Stay home when you are sick,” Carbone said. “It’s a way to keep contact as minimal as possible and stop the spreading of the flu.”

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.

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