School districts around the state are closing, at least temporarily, a result of the flu.
While local districts have not closed, they have been keeping an eye on flu activity.
Jonathan Langhals, assistant superintendent at Marysville schools said district officials “are monitoring the situation due to the volume of other districts choosing to close and what appears to be a spread of the flu.”
He said that even with the flu, the district has, “not seen a significant decline in attendance” with the daily attendance at more than 92% this week.
Rich Baird, North Union superintendent, said the absentee rate, “since Christmas time has been 7-9%, which is what we would expect for this time of year.”
In the Jonathan Alder School District, schools “have been in the normal range of absenteeism the last two weeks,” Cory Guindon, administrative assistant to the superintendent and board of education, said.
Fairbanks School District is having a different experience.
Superintendent Adham Schirg said the absentee rate at Fairbanks School District is “right about 15%.”
“That’s pretty high,” he said.
Schirg said Fairbanks does not have “a clear threshold” of when to close. He said there is no real set of best practices for closures. He said he has watched as other districts close. He said the absentee rates range from 10% to 25%.
“It looks like that really fluctuates from district to district,” Schirg said.
Even within local districts, the decision of when and how to close varies.
Baird said his district does not look at a specific number as much as trends.
“We want to look at: Is this something we can’t get ahead of, does it keep getting worse, is the rate increasing?” Baird said.
Marysville School officials said “the Superintendent makes the decision” about when to close.
Langhals said that as Superintendent Diane Mankins makes her decision, she will consider factors “aligned to CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations” including the number of and severity of cases, the benefits of school closing and “reflect upon problems that school closings can cause for our students and families.”
In other districts, superintendents speak with building principals and district health care providers, then seek guidance from the county board of health.
“Any time you close school, it is a difficult decision,” Baird said. “It isn’t taken lightly because you are here to educate, but there are a lot of factors to be considered. That’s why you bring in the experts to help you make that decision.”
Schirg said he also talks with other districts in the area, “to find out what they are seeing.”
He said that while student absentee rate is an important factor, so is staff attendance.
“That’s a big thing,” Schirg said.
He said Fairbanks’ staff absentee rate has been “pretty low.”
Officials have said that as staff illness rises in several districts, it can be difficult to find enough substitute teachers.
District officials said they are working to take actions that will hopefully keep the districts open.
“We have stepped up our custodial and maintenance efforts to minimize the spread of illness,” Schirg said.
Baird said he has also discussed the need for vigilance with North Union’s custodial staff.
In the end, each district said the decision of when to close is a balancing act.
“We want to stay open, but we are concerned and aware of the health and wellness of our students and staff and their families,” Schirg said.
Union County Health Department Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush said there are simple, but “vitally important steps to prevent the spread of flu and other viral infections.”
To fight infections, UCHD advises individuals to take the following precautions:
– Wash your hands thoroughly and often.
– Cover coughs and sneezes with an elbow.
– Stay home when sick; try to avoid public places until you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.