Story Created:
Oct 20, 2009 at 11:10 AM EST
Story Updated:
Oct 20, 2009 at 6:20 PM EST
ST. JOSEPH, Mich. ― The flu is forcing at least two schools in St. Joseph, Michigan to close for the rest of the week.
Of students at Upton Middle School, 50 percent were out sick on Tuesday, and 30 percent of students at Lincoln Elementary were out sick. The district's superintendent says the health department recommended the schools close until Monday.
They aren't the only schools battling the flu outbreak in southwest Michigan. At least 17 schools in the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek area closed Tuesday because of low attendance.
"As the middle school children infect their older or younger sibs, as parents get exposed, as grandparents get exposed, you'll see this spread out like a wave and it'll start to impact multiple areas," said Dr. Greg Harrington, Calhoun County Medical Director.
"It’s one of those situations that seem to be out of our control and right now we’re doing what we have to do to not only keep our kids safe, but do what’s educationally sound,” said St. Joseph Public Schools Superintendent Al Skibbe.
In Michigan, if a school district has more than 25 percent of its students out sick, it doesn't count as a school day, Skibbe said, so they may have to make it up at the end of the year. He said the schools could also use a built-in snow/emergency make-up day if this winter’s weather isn’t so severe, or forego state aid payments per student for the number of days the schools were closed.
Overall, district-wide attendance for St. Joseph Public Schools was above 25 percent Tuesday. With Niles students it was 15 percent, and 10 percent were absent from Buchanan Schools and Brandywine Schools.
The Berrien County Health Department has finalized a schedule for some upcoming H1N1 vaccination clinics. The first is this Saturday, October 24 at Lake Michigan College from 10 a.m. to 3. They also have one planned for next Tuesday, October 27, at New Buffalo High School from 3 p.m. to 7. There are several others scheduled throughout the next couple of weeks.
