Flu virus widespread in Auburn schools

AUBURN — With the swine flu raging across Maine, two local elementary schools reported Wednesday that at least one-fifth of their students were out sick.

Hardest hit was Park Avenue Elementary School, where 23 percent were out sick Tuesday, Assistant Superintendent Katy Grondin said. Park Avenue hasn't offered students swine flu vaccines yet; a clinic is scheduled for Nov. 17.

At East Auburn Elementary, 20 percent of students were out Tuesday, Grondin said.

When a school's absenteeism hits 15 percent, it must be reported to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Of 900 schools statewide, 65 reported absenteeism at 15 percent or higher this week, according to the Maine CDC.

Two other Auburn schools were on the verge of reporting, Grondin said. Edward Little High School and Auburn Middle School were at 14 percent Tuesday.

Not all of the sick students have H1N1, Grondin said. The numbers only represent children who are absent. "They could have bronchitis," she said.

But at Park Avenue Elementary, parents painted a more striking picture. One parent said her son's class had only six students one day; 12 others were out sick.

So many students and teachers were sick that two mothers questioned whether Park Avenue should stay open.

"They should close the school to disinfect the classrooms," said Dionne Morneau, who kept her children home because so many others were sick. Julia Dumont, who has two children at Park Avenue, said she volunteered at the school Tuesday and saw many students who were ill come into the office.

"They were coming through, one right after another," Dumont said. "It seemed like kids were going home sick all day long. The secretary said she hadn't seen anything like this."

A lot of staff also has been out sick, she said. "There doesn't seem to be a lot of teaching going on," Dumont said. With so many students missing, some teachers said they didn't want to teach things, only to have to re-teach them when children returned, she said.

"If not a lot of teaching is going on, maybe it's just best students stay home for a little while," Dumont said Wednesday.

Whether to close is a local decision, according to the Maine CDC.

And that can be a tough call, Grondin said. "We are following CDC recommendations. They're encouraging schools to stay open as long as possible."

When a school can't effectively deliver education services, it should consider closing, Auburn Superintendent Tom Morrill said. Auburn schools have not reached that threshold, he said.

Auburn schools aren't seeing high numbers of teachers out, Grondin said. On Tuesday, 18 of more than 300 were sick. "So far, the adults are doing pretty good," Grondin said.

From now until April, the flu is going to come in waves, she said. "So if you close now and reopen, you could then re-close in a week. This could last all school year."

A closed school can be a burden on the community, Grondin said. Students are being told to stay home if they're ill, to wash their hands thoroughly and often, to cough in their sleeves and not to share drinks and food, Grondin said.

"We're trying to be vigilant."

Swine flu clinics have been held at Edward Little High School and Auburn Middle School. The clinic schedule for elementary schools: Nov, 9. Washburn; Nov. 10, Walton; Nov. 12, East Auburn; Nov. 16, Fairview; and Nov. 17, Park Avenue.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Maine CDC, said the swine flu "is extremely widespread," and arrived in Maine before vaccines were available.

"It's like a brush fire," she said. "We're putting a lot of water on through the schools, but it's still out there."

Schools in Winthrop and Jonesport closed this week because of H1N1 flu outbreaks.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com