The-News-Leader.com - School officials report increased absences due to illness last month

by Jeff Saunders

Reporter

Nordonia Hills -- With reports of H1N1 "Swine" flu spreading across the country, area schools are reporting a minimal increase in absenteeism due to illness so far this season.

"It has certainly increased the number of students who are ill, but it has not impacted us to the extent that it has other schools around the state," said Patti Koslo, district public information officer.

She said one Lee Eaton student had a confirmed case of H1N1 flu and had been scheduled to return to class Oct. 28.

According to figures supplied by Koslo, high school absences, which normally average about 5 percent daily, peaked during the week of Oct. 11 at 12 percent -- or about 175 students -- but were back down to 6.1 percent the week of Oct. 26.

Middle school rates, normally averaging 4 percent daily, were up over the last two weeks and were 4.7 percent -- 31 students -- during the week of Oct. 26.

The district's four elementary schools, which all average 2 to 3 percent daily absence rates have also had increases.

Lee Eaton and Ledgeview Elementary School both had their highest rates during the week of Oct. 26, when absenteeism was 9.5 percent and 8.8 percent respectively -- or 54 and 42 students.

Rushwood and Northfield were also high during that week, at 6 and 5.2 percent respectively -- or 26 and 23 students.

Principals at the area's two private schools say that flu season has not had a major impact on absences. St. Barnabas School Principal Kim Browning declined to release overall numbers, but said 21 students out of about 700 were absent Oct. 30.

"We have not had significant numbers out with the flu," she said.

Terry Mencarini, principal of Northfield Baptist Christian School, estimated that out of 134 students, the school has averaged about three absences a day.

"We're doing fairly well," said Mencarini on Oct. 30. "We did have one little guy in one of our pre-k classes with a confirmed case of swine flu. He was out for a few days and is now back in class.

"We haven't had many with the flu," she added. "Mostly such things as allergies and colds."

Koslo, Browning and Mencarini said the schools have all tried to do what they can to reduce the number of flu cases. All say the schools are emphasizing handwashing and using hand sanitizers.

"The number one preventative is hand washing, good solid hand washing," said Koslo.

The officials also say that the schools are using cleaners designed to kill the viruses that cause flu.

"The staff have been wiping down doorknobs daily with a disinfectant spray," said Mencarini.

Koslo said that the district also sent home with each student a list of preventative measures and Browning said that when a student returns to school after the flu, the school nurse checks the student's temperature before classes begin and again four hours later. Browning said the school is also encouraging students use water bottles, rather than drinking fountains.

Koslo, Browning and Mencarini said there are also two other precautions that the schools take to combat the flu.

"We encourage our parents to keep sick students at home," said Mencarini. "And we isolate sick students quickly and get them out of the building as fast as possible."

E-mail: jsaunders@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3169