How to get schools up to speed?

[RunningInCircles]

I concerned about my kid's school - they haven't issued any statements about the flu, and kids have been going to school sick (because they don't want to get behind). I'd really like to see them discourage sick kids from going to school, and to encourage hand washing. On the other hand, I don't want to come across as a flubie nut. (No offense intended to any nuts, you are about to be considered wise and sage advisors.) Does anyone know of an appropriate letter that I could send?

[RunningInCircles]

Potemkin suggested in the "shoutbox" that I use something from the State Department of Health.

So... what I wrote to the principal and school nurse was:

• The specific behavior that I was concerned about (kids going to school sick)
• Gently mentioned the flu without jumping up and down
• Said that the State Department of Health was recommending schools to take action
• Provided a link to the State DoH web page for schools on the flu
• Thanked them for their excellent health practices in the past.

I let the State link do the talking for the recommended practices. I didn't want to come in sounding like I was telling them how to do their job (any more than I already was!)

[RunningInCircles]

Just as a follow-up: either the school was already going to send out a letter, or they jumped pretty quick in response to my letter. In any case, I'm happy with the outcome.

Oh, and the response from the school nurse was as prickly as I expected, since I was stepping on her professional toes. I advise trying to be as careful as possible not to offend if you send a letter like this one.

[Exodia]

I made a call to my district today, asked about plans regarding the emerging outbreak. Bumped to the superintendant's admin asst, who said they did have a message on the web page (which I had already seen). I said "yes, the message that said to basically avoid getting sick?". I asked if there were any plans for closures and she said no. She advised to check the webpage and local access TV channel for updates.

[flourbug]

Here's our school district's Swine Flu Information Page:

"At this time there are no plans to close Pasco County Schools due to Swine Flu. All District worksites are currently operating normally."

They link to the State's Pandemic Flu pdf - http://sanders.pasco.k12.fl.us/websi...SwineFluPR.pdf

[Mama Alanna]

Our county schools have reported 2 students ill in different schools. No school closures planned, not even of affected schools. They're sanitizing the buildings, and feel sure that will take care of the problem.

[preppiechick]

I took a slightly different approach, at one of my girls schools (parochial k-12). I am friends with the school board president, who happens to be a doctors wife. I offered her information and she wanted quite a bit. I gave her government school closing recommendations, cdc links, cytokine information, and most importantly, second wave information. I talked with her about the possibility of this becoming bad, in the fall, and that they should look into planning for long school closures. I took the low key approach and only provided links that a doctor would read (cdc, hhs, cidrap, etc.) She will be bringing it up at the next school board meeting, with recommendations to have the teachers think through a lesson plan, for school closures, and recommending to parents to plan for children remaining at home and having the minimum of redcross recommendations of two weeks of food. I was impressed that the Principal had sent home a brief letter, last Monday.

Now, the bigger concern is my other daughter's high school...barely a mention, and they have had many absences from kids, some with hospital stays, and several day long absences. There have been a lot of kids from this area, who have gone to Mexico, over spring break, or have gone looking at colleges, in areas that are affected, like Texas, Chicago, Kansas City, east coast, etc. One at a time...