Swine flu: School absentees up, parents' questions up, clinics open

NORTH PROVIDENCE - Parents in the district have been calling the School Department with questions about the H1N1 virus, the swine flu, while student absences are higher at some schools than at the same time last year.

Some parents have been expressing frustration, according to Giovanna Donoyan, assistant superintendent.

"The general topic is how to protect their child," Donoyan told The Breeze Monday, Nov. 2.

School-based vaccine clinics run by the state Health Department were to begin today, Nov. 4, at Centredale Elementary School from 4 to 8 p.m. for students who are in kindergarten through 5th grade. Other school clinics will be held, about one per week, through Dec. 15.

Absences are up, "absolutely," Donoyan said.

"Where is the highest spike of H1N1 in the district?" is also a typical question from parents, Donoyan said.

"We don't know," Donoyan said, because not all parents offer the information about why their children are absent.

"I don't see huge spikes that would cause me to worry," Donoyan said.

According to attendance figures from the state Department of Education for Friday, Oct. 30:

18 percent of Stephen Olney School students were absent,

15 percent of students were absent at the high school and at Centredale School, 11 to 12 percent of students were absent at Marieville and Whelan elementary schools and Birchwood Middle School.

The least absences were reported at these schools: 6 percent at McGuire elementary and 7 percent at Greystone elementary schools and 9.5 percent at Ricci Middle School, according to the Education Department.

One year ago on the same day, the absentee rate was 5 percent at the high school and 2 to 3.5 percent at the elementary and middle schools. A few days later, on Nov. 3, 2008, absences rose to 8 percent at the high school and 5 to 6 percent at four elementary and middle schools, according to figures supplied to The Breeze by the Education Department.

Donoyan said high school absences on a normal day could be 10 percent at this time of year due to students visiting colleges or other reasons. Just over 1,000 students are enrolled at the high school.

Donoyan said the recorded absences do not account for absences due to injuries, family circumstances and other reasons.

"One case of H1N1 is as important to us as 50 percent," she said. "... we are vigilant. We have an emergency plan in place in case an exorbitant amount of teachers come down with it. We have a very deep substitute pool."

The schools have not been directed to do anything differently, she said.

"Our schools are clean," and monitored daily, she said. Hand soap is replenished as soon as possible. Hand sanitizer is available in classrooms and has been for years, she said.

"Food service people cannot come to work if they are sick," she said.

The schools are following federal disease control directives.

"This is a virus that should not stop us in our tracks. Live your life as it has to be lived. Take precautions. Clean your hands. Sneeze into the fold of your arm. If your child is presenting with some illness, a fever, keep your child home. Seek medical attention," Donoyan said.

Parents have also asked how their children can be vaccinated if they miss the clinic scheduled at their respective schools.

Children who miss clinics must go to their pediatrician for the vaccine, Donoyan said.

"The Department of Health has rationed the vaccine according to the enrollment of every school. All we are doing at the school level is providing the facility," Donoyan said.