Superintendent: District taking precautions after Clay Intermediate student’s death

Tribune Staff Report

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Clay Intermediate School principal James Knight, left, and SBCSC superintendent James Kapsa discuss the death of an 11-year-old girl who was a sixth grader at Clay Intermediate Tuesday during a press

Clay Intermediate School principal James Knight, left, and SBCSC superintendent James Kapsa discuss the death of an 11-year-old girl who was a sixth grader at Clay Intermediate Tuesday during a press conference at the school. (Tribune Photo/ BARBARA ALLISON)

By Jason Overholt

Story Created: Oct 6, 2009 at 10:50 AM EST

Story Updated: Oct 18, 2009 at 10:59 AM EST

SOUTH BEND — South Bend school officials are taking all necessary precautions following the death of an 11-year-old Clay Intermediate Center student.

Mercedes Lewis, a sixth-grade student at Clay Intermediate Center, died about 12:55 a.m. this morning at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, according to St. Joseph County Deputy Coroner Chuck Hurley.

Health officials say preliminary findings show that Lewis did have the flu. However, further testing for which strain will not be known for another 24 hours, according to officials.

Hospital personnel admitted the girl to the emergency room Monday. She was reportedly healthy prior to that day.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, Hurley said, though results of certain tests might not be available for several days.

Speaking Monday at a news conference at Clay Intermediate, South Bend schools Superintendent James Kapsa said that in light of concerns about H1N1, all necessary precautions are being taken until a cause of death is confirmed.

The precautions include:

  • The sanitation of all sixth-grade classrooms;

  • The sanitation of stairwells and railings throughout the school; and

  • Hand sanitizer for all classrooms.

    These precautions are in accordance with state Board of Health recommendations, Kapsa said.

    The school was notified of Lewis’ death about 7:05 a.m. today by the girl’s parents, Clay Principal James Knight said.

    The entire school was notified at the beginning of the day, Knight said, and social workers are available for students.

    We'll have much more on this developing story tonight at 5 and 6 and online at wsbt.com

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