As roughly 8,400 Morgan Hill School District students returned
to class Monday, state education officials urged administrators,
teachers and students to do all they can to create a
“Germ free zone” and curb the spread of the flu.
As roughly 8,400 Morgan Hill School District students returned to class Monday, state education officials urged administrators, teachers and students to do all they can to create a “Germ free zone” and curb the spread of the flu.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell is also working to restore state funding that would be lost due to a high number of flu-related absences.
“When students return from winter break, we want to redouble our efforts at keeping schools healthy,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell visited schools across the state last week to promote germ-free schools and the California Department of Education is distributing health information “tool kits” designed to give schools a booster shot in dealing with flu prevention.
The Morgan Hill School District can lose approximately $35 per student per day for absences.
O’Connell outlined the procedures schools should follow if their student population has been hit hard by flu to avoid losing funds allocated for average daily attendance, which make up about two-thirds of districts’ total general fund budget.
Funding based on attendance gives schools an incentive to have students show up for class. But the California education code offers an exception to schools affected by disasters or epidemics.
School districts that experience a significant decrease in student attendance (with more than 10 percent absent) because of the flu are urged to work with county health officials to determine if the region has experienced an epidemic, O’Connell said.
“Schools are facing many challenges this winter season,” O’Connell said. “While we hope that every student stays healthy, I would like to remind schools that we are here to help if an outbreak of flu does severely affect their school attendance.”
Morgan Hill will soon be seeing the state’s health tips, developed by the California Department of Health Services, displayed in school classrooms or bathrooms. Tips for teachers and parents are also provided in the tool kits.
Tips for students include:
• Avoid coughing or sneezing on others;
• Wash hands often with soap; and
• Stay home if sick.
