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http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09170 ... TN_TX.html

Loudon County has decided to close all schools Friday through Tuesday because of high levels of absenteeism among both students and teachers.

Absences among students due to the flu have reached 20 percent systemwide, with some schools approaching levels as high as 30 percent, according to Jason Vance, assistant director of schools. Teacher absence rates are also approaching 20 percent throughout the system, Vance said.

"After speaking with the county physician, we decided it would be better to close all schools," Vance said.

The strain of flu affecting most of the children seems to be a little worse than usual, Vance said.

More details as they develop online and in Friday's News Sentinel.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/sep/1 ... h-tuesday/

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/09180 ... ville.html

These outbreaks will be discussed tonight at 10 PM EST

http://www.renseradio.com/

http://www.marshalltribune.com/story/1571281.html

High rates of absenteeism due to flu-like symptoms, and the possibility of closing some Marshall County schools, were considered during a Safe and Drug Free Task Force meeting on Tuesday.
However, late Thursday morning, local absenteeism rates of nine to 13 percent - above normal but not enough to close schools for health reasons - were reported by Dr. Patsey Thomas, the director of coordinated school health.

"Last week, we did have some high numbers, but right now we're OK," Thomas said Thursday. "It's not at a dismissal rate right now because we are taking all the precautions. The custodians are sanitizing the buildings. The children are coughing and sneezing in the folds of their elbows, and everyone is sanitizing their hands.

"The parents have been really cooperative," Thomas continued. "Everybody's acting responsibly.

"Dr. Curtis said not to dismiss schools unless we neared 20 to 25 percent," she said Tuesday. "He said he would make the decision with the assistant director Roy Dukes, attendance supervisor Jackie Abernathy, and federal projects coordinator Linda Williams-Lee."

"I don't want to endanger staff," Thomas continued. "If a child says they are sick, they are contagious - the temperature will come later."

Dukes pointed out that the administration has the option of closing schools one at a time, rather that closing the whole system. Furthermore, lost days can be forgiven. They do not have to be made up.

High school students, in particular, are reluctant to be out of school due to the increased demands of the curriculum, and the homecoming games and festivities scheduled for the near future.

Blount County's Daily Times reports that two schools in Loudon County are closed this week, but that system planned to resume classes on Monday. In Monroe County, Madisonville Middle School reported a 30 percent absentee rate, and is also closed until next week. Alcoa City schools and Blount County schools were closed earlier this month.

A surge of suspected flu cases will keep Anderson County schools closed through Monday, officials said today.

“Parents are urged to keep children at home to help stop the spread of illness,” according to school system spokeswoman Karen Bridgeman.

Officials closed all the system’s schools Thursday and Friday because of high rates of absenteeism, Bridgeman said last week.

The system had a 13 percent overall absentee rate on Wednesday, she said. Clinton Middle School had a 20 percent absentee rate; Clinton High School had an 18 percent absentee rate.

“While the schools will increase specific cleaning and sanitizing efforts while the students are away, parents are encouraged to keep their children at home rather than having them gather in groups,” a release sent last week said.

More details as they develop online and in Monday’s News Sentinel.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/sep/2 ... ed-monday/

School officials announced Anderson County Schools have extended cancellation of its classes through Monday, Sept. 21.

The closing is due to excessive absences from illness, according to Director of Communications Karen M. Bridgeman.

Anderson County Schools have been closed since Thursday.

Union County School also will be out Monday, and Loudon County Schools will be closed through Tuesday.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.as ... ovider=top

Anderson County Schools will resume classes on a regular schedule Tuesday after being closed since Thursday.

A surge of suspected flu cases has kept the schools closed with high absenteeism rates.

Parents are asked to send their children to school if they are healthy, the system said in an e-mail today.

Sick children should be kept home until they are fever-free, without the aid of fever-reducing medications, for 24 hours, the system said.

The schools closed down last week after double-digit absenteeism Wednesday across the county.

More details as they develop online and in Tuesday's News Sentinel.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/sep/2 ... s-tuesday/

A total of 307 students were absent from Cheatham County’s three middle schools on Tuesday and an additional 49 students left early with flu-like symptoms, officials reported.


Cheatham Middle reported the highest numbers with 150 absent and 32 early dismissals. Sycamore Middle was not far behind with 125 students out and 17 leaving early. Harpeth Middle reported 32 absences.


Beth Campbell, the district’s coordinated health supervisor, said the number of absences, as well as early dismissals, were unusually high.


“Even Cheatham Central was high with 61 students absent with 17 more going home early,” Campbell said. “Normal absences are roughly five percent of enrollment which would be 30-35 for Cheatham High.”


• Schools likely will not close


Campbell said last year several private schools were closed by state mandate due to the H1N1 flu virus, but that the state has since changed its policy.


“The CDC (Center for Disease Control) advises against closure because they’ve found that kids congregate more when they’re out of school and can speed up the spread of the virus,” Campbell said.


She added there is a 48-hour stomach virus going around.


Schools in the county are focusing on high traffic areas and surfaces to be sanitized by custodial staff.


“The H1N1 virus supposedly can only surface on surfaces such as desktops or doorknobs for two to eight hours,” she said, adding that thorough sanitizing should address the issue overnight.


She said free flu shots would be available Saturday at NorthCrest in Pleasant View.


Due to the high number of calls received at the Board of Education, both Campbell and Attendance Supervisor Kinny Jones drafted the following statement that was approved by interim director of schools Dianne Williams, who is out with a high fever.


• The statement reads:


Flu-like symptoms continue to be an area of concern for our school system. We are in continuous contact with our schools regarding numbers of sick children and the number of children absent due to illness. We have plans in place for dealing with sick children at school. We are following the CDC guidelines. We are in continuous contact with the Cheatham County Health Department and the State Department of Education and other school systems. We are taking measures to ensure this current situation will not cause a major disruption in Cheatham County education. However, if the State Department of Education, the Cheatham County Health Department and our interim director feel it is in the best interest to close or abbreviate school days, we will notify you immediately.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090 ... le+schools

aka swine flu