District 742 continues to report the students absent with flu-like illness. We are seeing pockets of problems associated with field trips/buses; we may have to look at discontinuing some field trip opportunities if there continues to be increases in illness. We are ready to go with the county and school-based clinics. Vaccinations will begin on November 9th. Parents are being asked to return the consent forms from packets being sent out by October 26th. That will allow district staff ample time to review the consent forms for completeness and determine whether a child can get the flumist or injection; there may need to be followup with parents.
Cultural Navigators will be receiving training on the vaccination information sheets and frequently asked questions. Information nights are being planned at LaCruz, the Boys & Girls Club, and Bel Clare; translators will be available at these sessions. There may be some confusion because Talahi and Clearview will not be receiving the information packets as they will have community-based clinics through Sherburne County, while siblings at South and Tech will be receiving the packets. The information nights should help to alleviate confusion.
We have E mailed information to all administrators asking that they emphasize, with students, the importance of “social distancing,” as well as not sharing phones, etc. Hand sanitizers are in media and computer labs.
We ask for daily school attendance data. The MDH now is asking that we report only once when we have reached the threshold for number of absences. If absences go down and then back up, we are asked to report again.
Steps taken:
a) I sent an email to administrators indicating that if the media contacts them about absences due to influenza-like illnesses and the academic challenges that we would face, the response should be:
a. We are sensitive to the needs of our students to do their make-up work; we are flexible with this.
b. We will always continue with the academic programming at school.
c. We will make every effort to support the students when they return to school.
b) We remind parents on our website to provide accurate contact information for their family including emergency contact numbers.
c) We are looking at the possibility of providing individual hand sanitizers for students.
d) Administrators told lunchroom monitors to make sure they are changing water as they clean cafeteria tables. Students will be asked not to share items such as phones, etc.
e) We are using a different protocol for serving lunch items, i.e., individual cups vs. children using tongs to pick up food items.
f) District Student Services has been keeping us posted on the status of the vaccinations clinics. All questions regarding clinics, consents, and vaccines can be forwarded to Dr. Elisabeth Rogers.
g) KIDSTOP may have an in-service done with their staff.
h) We also gather information on the number of staff absences. It was noted that some staff members may be absent because their children are home ill.
