Illness Closes Lansing Schools

An unusually high number of Lansing students were out sick this week, with over a hundred absent from the Middle School Monday and Tuesday.  That represents about 25% of the student population of that school.  53 were home from Elementary School.  The High School had 27 out by noon Tuesday.  "I'm monitoring the situation on a daily basis," says Superintendent Mark Lewis.  The Middle School has been hit far harder than the other two schools. At this point I do not intend to close the schools." 

But by Thursday 188 kids were out from the Middle School and Lewis decided to close all three schools Friday.  "I'm sensative to the fact that sometimes oder siblings have to care for their younger siblings," he said. " We have 4 snow days.  This is the first one we've used."

On Tuesday so many students were ill that administrators considered shutting down the Middle School altogether.  By Wednesday about 160 children were out sick.  And many teachers were out sick as well.  But the situation is so unusual that there isn't a set policy in place.  "Right now we're looking at advice as to how to handle it on a large scale," Middle School Principal Jamie Thomas said.  "I need to make sure that I have District guidance for any decisions that need to be made."


Students and teachers were stricken with strep throat, a local stomach virus, and flu.  "I just talked to the Health Department and they said it's not too late to get a flu shot," said Middle School Nurse Beverly Snow.  She said the Health Department didn't have any set number at which you should close a school.  By noon she had already sent 12 kids home for the day.  "Normally if you send one or two home that's a lot," she explained.

"Our goal is if someone is sick with any of those... if they have a fever keep them home for at least 24 hours after they have had a fever and don't have any more symptoms," Snow said.  "For strep, obviously get a strep screen, because that's so important.  After their strep screen and they start medication if it's positive they can't come to school for 24 hours.  So if anybody has any symptoms please stay home!  Wash hands!"

High School Nurse Alice Sheerer says that it isn't unusual for between 10 and 20 students to be out sick.  But by noon on Tuesday 27 were out.  "That's not a lot, but kids are leaving sick.  Also they're coming sick and they're staying even though they don't feel well, because they have tests and things."  Snow put it another way: "High School students don't report things," she said.  "They're too cool to report when they're sick!"

Thomas took immediate action when he realized there was a health problem.  "I've talked with the custodial staff, and I've talked with (Building and Grounds Supervisor) Glen Fenner," he said.  "We're taking special precautions to make sure we are disinfecting the desks with something that I've been advised is very effective.  The teachers are doing their best to try to keep everyone as clean as possible, and wash our hands as much as you possibly can."

Thomas also sent a letter home on Wednesday asking parents to keep sick children at home until at least 24 hours after their symptoms have subsided.

Thomas noted that shutting down the school for only a day would not solve the problem of infectious illness.  Lewis also says this is a concern.  "We're eight school days away from a week-long break," he noted.  "This usually breaks the back of such situations.  However, my intention to keep the schools open would change should there be a continuing and impressive increase in absenteeism at the middle school.  We'll take it one day at a time."

But by the end of the week the number had risen to almost half of the middle school population.  "Hopefully a three day weekend will break it's back," Lewis said.  "We'll see."

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