CHARLOTTESVILLE — Eastern Hancock schools are being closed for a second day after an unusually high number of student absences.
Students will instead participate in a second day of e-learning while janitorial staff continues to sanitize school facilities.
The school corporation canceled all classes and after-school activities at its schools on Wednesday, March 4; and Thursday, March 5. Administrators reported high levels of bronchitis, strep throat, Influenza A and Influenza B among students and staff members who were ill earlier this week.
Eastern Hancock Superintendent David Pfaff did not provide precise numbers, but said about 20 percent of students at Eastern Hancock High School and Middle School were absent on Monday and about 25 percent were absent on Tuesday. Based on current enrollment, that amounts to roughly 140 to 170 absences at the high school and middle school on those two days. Attendance rates at the elementary school were normal, Pfaff said, but classes were still canceled as a precaution because the schools share a campus.
Students were not tested for influenza at school, Pfaff said; the corporation received word from parents that they had tested positive.
Pfaff advised parents of sick students to keep them out of school for a few days.
“We know that parents are very conscientious about having their kids at school, but this is one time where it is better to be safe than sorry,” Pfaff said.
Pfaff said a number of Eastern Hancock teachers also were absent or came into work despite having some symptoms of illness, which also contributed to the decision to cancel classes.
“We need to try to talk them out of that a little bit,” Pfaff said.
Thorough cleaning at the schools was set to continue today (March 5). Janitorial staff on Wednesday used disinfectant and “fogging,” spraying chemical disinfectants in an aerosol form, to reach as many potentially contaminated surfaces as possible
The work was being done by the school corporation’s employees and usual janitorial contractors, Pfaff said, and there will be no additional cost except for the use of cleaning supplies.
Pfaff said the corporation began taking additional steps to disinfect the campus on Monday and will continue doing so.
The Indiana Department of Health reported that influenza has been widespread in Indiana this season. Five school-wide outbreaks had been reported as of the week of Feb. 28. A total of 69 people have died from complications of the flu, compared to 45 through the same period a year earlier.
Around the world, a new strand of coronavirus, COVID-19, has sparked concerns of potential disease outbreaks. The virus apparently originated in China, where it has caused approximately 2,900 deaths, and has spread to many other countries. The U.S. has seen confirmed cases in several states, though none so far in Indiana.
Hancock County health officials have said people should focus on the same precautions they always should take to guard against flulike illnesses: washing their hands; avoiding touching their faces; staying away from those who are sick; and staying home from work or school if they experience symptoms.
Meanwhile, school is going on for those who are able. Wednesday was the first-ever e-learning day for Eastern Hancock, which became the last Hancock County school district to adopt the practice when the school board approved it at its January meeting.
Pfaff said the corporation was anticipating using e-learning in the event of extreme weather, not illness, but that principals and teachers had taken many steps to prepare for an unexpected e-learning day and introduce the concept to their students.
Students unable to complete the work Wednesday and today due to illness will have the opportunity to make it up over the next week.
Many students were logging on to the software used for e-learning and few parents were calling in with issues, Pfaff said Wednesday morning.
“We’re getting good percentages of check-ins, so it seems to be going smoothly,” he said.