No increase yet in student absenteeism

The school board’s H1N1 plans and how it should respond to the pandemic will be the topic of a school advisory council workshop Monday at St. Mary’s Bay Academy from 7-9 p.m. “The Tri-County Regional Board as a whole has seen no increase in illness, and except for one school that has had some issues a couple of weeks ago with a cold bug going, we haven't seen much here yet,” said Bill Curry, director of programs and student services.

Curry did say that the board, and other boards, wouldn’t really know officially if the H1N1 is to blame for student absences as it is the board’s understanding that the health care system will only be testing patients who are really ill, are in the hospital or have some underlying health issues. “The board, then, will expect cases of H1N1 sometime, obviously, but since it wouldn't change much of what we do if it's H1N1 or regular seasonal flu, or even just many kids out due to any health issue, we would simply follow our plan and try to keep going,” said Curry.

The board has a ‘business continuity plan’, which is posted on the board website, that says it is the priority of the school board to keep schools open as long as it is safe to do so.

Decisions about closing schools for health reasons will be made in consultation with the department of education and health officials.

Student absentee rates are monitored in all Tri-County schools. By 10 a.m. each day, principals are to report absenteeism via an online database or by phone or email.

The board’s continuity plan also states that during the school day, students who are displaying flu-like symptoms should be placed in an isolation room until their parents or guardians take them home. Students who are placed in isolation and cannot be picked up will be transported home by a designate as per the emergency contact information for the student.

Curry said schools are working on where these isolation rooms will be located. There is also the question of supervision in the rooms, although the board is waiting for advice on supervision from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the education department. “The kids would be supervised. The question is how and by whom. My best guess right now is that a staff member who has been vaccinated and might volunteer could do this, or there may be other ways to accomplish this.”

The board’s plan states that students who are displaying or exhibiting severe respiratory distress should be provided with access to appropriate medical care and that employees who are showing flu-like symptoms are instructed to notify their supervisor and leave work immediately.