Schools' flu absence exception not yet extended

An exception to the student absentee policy at Richmond County schools regarding parental notes was not extended this week but could be revisited after the holiday.

Until then, school spokesman Louis Svehla said students who are out sick Monday and have already missed their allotted number of days should present a note from a doctor instead of from a parent for the absence to be excused.

"There has not been any decision as of yet to extend the deadline on parent notes," said Mr. Svehla on Tuesday, the school system's last day of classes before the Thanksgiving break. "Currently it is set to expire. It may be re-evaluated after the holiday break."

Since Sept. 8, students could present a signed note from a parent or guardian for any absences beyond five because of concerns over the novel influenza A H1N1 virus.

School officials initially agreed to suspend the requirement only through Oct. 30 but decided earlier this month to stretch the exception until Nov. 24.

That extension was based in part on the school system having a high number of students with flu-like symptoms.

Mr. Svehla said Tuesday he couldn't say whether that was still the case.

However, Joy Miller, an epidemiologist with the East Central Health District, said her office has been tracking absenteeism rates in Richmond County schools this year and that numbers haven't been abnormal lately.

"Right now, the absenteeism rates are very low, at normal," she said. "We are seeing numbers that are average."

Ms. Miller said the system's highest spike of absenteeism occurred in September.

"The numbers are not showing what we saw back then," she said, but added that her office continues to check absentee numbers of individual schools should more spikes occur, noting that seasonal influenza usually starts to peak in January and there is still uncertainty about H1N1.

"We're constantly monitoring it," she said. "This is nothing we're putting aside."

As for the H1N1 vaccine, Richmond County school officials now say they're not sure whether they'll have any such clinics in schools beyond what's already been offered by local health department offices. Initially, school board members had been told H1N1 vaccines might be offered in schools as early as mid-October.

"We have not gotten any word yet on if or when we would receive the vaccines for the schools," Mr. Svehla said in an e-mail.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.