Medford schools returning to normal 
by Mark Berglund
The Star News
October 22, 2009 —  Medford area public and private schools were back in operation Monday following an extended closure last week to deal with high absentee rates related to the H1N1 flu virus. The schools were closed following classes on October 13 after 30 percent of the high school and almost 20 percent of the total student body were absent during the first two days of the week. Absentee rates were steady at just under 7 percent at the start of this week.
Taylor County Public Health Director Patty Krug said a September meeting between the health department and Taylor County schools about issues has helped to develop a consistent plan for dealing with the illness. The meeting dealt with training, supplies available from the county and protocol for making a decision like last week’s call.
The Medford School District’s pandemic plan is posted on the district web site.
While there is no magic number for a school closing, Krug said area schools and the health department continue to monitor absentee rates. The surveillance allowed school and health department officials to begin looking at the situation before the decision needed to be made by the administration. “They called us right away,” Krug said. “We had our side discussions and then brought in the administrative team.”
“These are tough decisions and we hope it is the right decision,” she said.
Medford District Administrator Pat Sullivan said the move to cancel classes was just in the discussion stage on October 12, but when the Tuesday absentee rate was no better, the decision was made to act.
Sullivan said the district will not be required to make up the days because it already schedules more than the state requirements for both days and hours. He said it would be a school board decision if the days are rescheduled.
Dr. Mark Reuter wears several hats. He is a school board member as well as the medical director and chief of staff at Memorial Health Center. He felt a good decision was made as the school, health department and himself looked at the options. “It was a joint decision. They got everyone’s input before making the decision,” he said. “There was not one person or agency who panicked. I think it worked well.”
Reuter said the work done ahead of the October 20 decision was not easy, but it was important to making a good decision. “Everyone worked hard to have a plan ready. Patty [Krug] and the school nurses did a good job of staying up to date on the recommendations.”
Reuter said the move also took pressure off local medical systems on Wednesday. Providers have urged people suffering from flu-like symptoms not to come in for treatment unless secondary medical complications were setting in. “Everyone was resigned to the fact the best thing to do was to stay home,” Reuter said.
Krug said flus like the H1N1 typically have peaks and valleys, so it is possible the absentee levels could spike again in the coming weeks.
Absentee rates are higher at Rib Lake Schools, but administrator Jeff Tortomasi said he hopes the school can avoid any lost time. The school had 15 percent of its students gone Tuesday and 12-1/2 gone Wednesday. “It looks like we are heading in the right direction,” Tortomasi said.
Tortomasi said parents have been cooperating and keeping kids home if they display flu-like symptoms. The same message of prevention continues at the school. “Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands,” Tortomasi said.
Tortomasi said the district is anxious to have its school-based flu vaccine program. Consent letters for the voluntary clinics will be going out to Taylor County parents shortly.
Krug said the vaccinations provide full immunity 10 days after the vaccine is administered, but they begin providing some level of immunity as soon as they are injected.
Krug said the basics of avoiding the flu and avoiding spreading the flu remain the same. “We continue to send the same message. Stay home if you are ill,” she said.
Krug said health officials are also urging businesses which require a doctor’s note for absent employees look at the policy on a case by case basis to avoid spreading the illness through clinic visits and to reduce the strain on the system. “We are asking them to forgo the medical slip when we know it is in the community,” she said.
Sullivan said many of the events scheduled during the week have already been rescheduled. Parent/teacher conferences will be October 27 and the Great Northern Conference cross country championships were moved back two days so Medford could host and compete in the event. The school’s football and volleyball team did forfeit contests scheduled during the week. “We were glad the conference allowed us to host the cross county meet,” Sullivan said. It was unfortunate for both the volleyball and football teams, but it is not something we could control.”
Sullivan knows students and teachers will need some time to get back on schedule after the days lost to illness and cancellation. “Clearly, they have to play catch-up, but it doesn’t have to happen in one week,” Sullivan said. “Obviously, adjustments have to be made.”

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