USD 234 schools dealing with flu

All schools are practicing and encouraging precautionary measures in an effort to help curb the spread of the flu virus. According to health officials, steps to remember include washing hands thoroughly, staying home when sick, coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the elbow, eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water, and getting adequate rest and exercise. Parents of students who have fevers should keep their children home until at least 24 hours after they have been free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Winfield Scott Elementary School Principal Dave Elliott said Tuesday that numbers of sick students were somewhat high at his school, but he was not alarmed and operations continued Monday without much change.

"We always have some illness," he said. "About 12 percent of our student body was out sick yesterday (Monday), which is a little high."

Elliott said none of the students had been diagnosed specifically with the H1N1 virus. As of Tuesday, more hand sanitizer dispensers were placed throughout the school for staff and students. The self-serve portion of the school cafeteria was closed down this week as another safety measure, and can only be used by staff wearing protective gloves, Elliott said.

"It's a safe environment," he said. "It's really been no different than any other day."

Eugene Ware Elementary School Principal Billie Jo Drake said Tuesday that about 33 students -- or 6 percent of total students enrolled at the school -- were absent on Monday due to illness.

Drake also said staff and students at her school were basically going through a typical day, but teachers and staff were "stressing the usual more," such as frequent handwashing and the use of hand sanitizers which all teachers and students must use before touching computer keyboards, desks, doors, and other objects.

Fort Scott Middle School Principal Barbara Albright said that an unusually high number of students, 153 of the school's 444 students, were absent from school on Monday. Through contacting many parents, school officials were able to confirm that 128 of those students were sick with a variety of flu-like symptoms, including upset stomach, varied degrees of fever, sore throat, and coughing, Albright said.

FSMS officials are also reminding students of precautions to take to avoid contagious viruses, and are handing out masks to students who have severe coughs, Albright said.

On Tuesday, 172 FSMS students were absent, with 144 of those students being confirmed as ill. While the number of sick students at the school is high, students, teachers and staff are working together to continue daily routines with plans to help ill students when they feel well enough to return to school, Albright said.

"That's alot of makeup work," she said. "We want students to rest and get well first ... teachers are going to be working with the students."

In an e-mail Tuesday, Fort Scott High School Principal Bob Beckham said there has not been an unusually large number of students absent at FSHS recently.

"So far we have not had extremely high numbers of students gone ... we have placed hand sanitizer throughout the building and are encouraging students to wash their hands frequently ... so far we have been very fortunate here," he said.

The Bourbon County Public Health Department received its first shipment of the H1N1 flu vaccine last week, and expects to receive a shipment each week. Although no dates have been set yet, local health officials are working on setting up immunizations at local schools in which parents can sign a consent form for their child to receive a free H1N1 vaccine, officials said.