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Schools keep eye out for ill students
Absences up, but not dramatically, officials say
Friday, Oct. 23, 2009
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With flu season in full swing and the H1N1 virus complicating things further, Calvert County Public School staff members have had to keep a very close eye on each other and on their students, particularly with some schools reporting 10 percent or more of their students absent on a day-to-day basis.
"We're not really seeing any building that has any high numbers for any length of time," said Supervisor of School Health Donna Nichols.
Nichols said that it has always been the school system's policy to have a school report to the central office when 10 percent or more of its student body has been absent; however, not all absences are flu, or even illness related.
"It's pretty much a day-to-day situation," she said, adding that school nurses, the central office and the Calvert County Department of Health are in constant contact throughout the day.
Director of Student Services Kim Roof said that despite this countywide watchful eye, she has yet to see any major causes for concern or any particular age groups falling ill.
"There have been points and times where there have been schools [with 10 percent or more students absent], but we're not seeing anything chronically countywide," said Roof, who re-enforced Nichols's point that not all absences are flu-related, citing practice SAT testing as a reason for students to come into school late and therefore be marked as absent.
"It might have looked like students were out sick, but really it was just students coming in late because of testing," Roof said, adding, "… And in many cases we don't know why the students are absent until they return."
The school system is offering H1N1 vaccine to students at a clinic at the Calvert County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students will need permissions slips, which are available at their schools. Younger children must be accompanied by a parent.
Northern High School in Owings is one of the schools that has experienced higher absences than usual, according to its principal, George Miller, who said that about 11 to 12 percent of the student body has been absent as opposed to the average 4 percent.
"Have I seen more sickness? Yes. Are there flu-like symptoms? Yes. Are some H1N1? Probably," Miller said, adding that this issue is hardly isolated as, "[It's] indicative of what's going on with the state."
Miller has, however, seen one positive outcome of the increased illnesses.
"I've seen a lot more kids carrying hand sanitizer … that will help us keep the attendance at a good rate," he said.
