After Monday peak, cases starting to decline

The number of ill students and staff out for the flu recently increased in the Austin Public Schools District, but numbers are starting to decline.

“It’s more than a typical year,” Superintendent David Krenz said.

Monday saw 18 percent of students out sick, but school reports showed declining flu cases as of Thursday. Alden-Conger Schools closed Thursday and Friday with 20 percent of students out sick.

Of course, the flu hasn’t only hit students.

“It’s hit our staff pretty hard too,” Krenz said. “So we’re finding subs and principals are in classrooms and doing all kinds of different things to make sure we’ve got teachers working with kids.”

The district only has a few school days left before holiday break, which is Dec. 24 through Jan. 2, 2015.

The school district is required to contact the Department of Health and the Department of Education when numbers reach five percent, but the organizations recommend schools remain open unless the illness “effects delivery to services,” or takes out too many people to effectively teach students. Due to the number of people students come in contact with outside of school — parents, friends and relatives — they are still likely to get ill staying away from school.

But the district hasn’t ignored the illness.

“We’ve sent stuff home to parents about what to look for and precautions to take,” Krenz said.

Schools have placed hand sanitizers in many of the classrooms and around the buildings, and the district is encouraging students and teachers to continually wash their hands. They have also encouraged anyone who feels ill to stay at home.

“The principals have been talking to parents providing them with information, just trying to help get the word out and keeping your hands clean,” Krenz said. “And if you’re not feeling well, just stay home.”

Krenz encouraged students and staff to take action and get energy levels back up so everyone can make it through the school day.

Yet students aren’t the only ones affected this year. The Sacred Heart Care Center has had confirmed cases of the flu virus, and are on a restricted visitors’ schedule to try to prevent the virus from spreading.