H1N1 Update from the Superintendent

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Dear Parents/Guardians:

The purpose of this letter is to keep you informed regarding the
potential H1N1 influenza health challenge the entire nation may be
facing. Although we previously posted a letter on our website about
this, I want to continue to emphasize the importance of remaining
focused on this issue.

Our district has received much information from the Dutchess County
Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Our
nurses have the necessary procedures in place to address this issue.
We shall make every effort to respond to changing circumstances and to
call upon experts to assist us as needed. Please note the following:

1. Students and staff will be strongly encouraged to stay home when
sick. According to the CDC, those with flu like symptoms should stay
home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs
of a fever, without the use of fever reducing medicines. They should
stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs. Any children who are
determined to be sick while at school will be sent home.

2. Our desire to communicate quickly with parents reinforces the need
for emergency information to be kept updated.

3. We will make every effort to separate students and staff identified
as symptomatic from others. If necessary, this might involve a
separate section of a room that will be set-off as much as possible.
The CDC recommends that they wear a surgical mask while waiting to go
home, if possible. The district has supplied each nurse’s office with
masks.

4. All school bathrooms will be checked to ensure an ample supply of
hand soap and water. We have also provided hand sanitizers in numerous
locations in each school and we are in the process of expanding those
locations. We will encourage hand washing in classrooms as much as
possible using soap and water, if available, and the use of hand
sanitizers under adult supervision.

5. Our facilities department will check water fountains to ensure they
are working properly and if not, they will be shut down for repairs.
You may send your child to school with bottled water. Please check the
student handbook for guidelines regarding bottled beverages in your
child’s school as each level’s guidelines differ.

6. All schools will practice routine and non-routine cleaning of
classrooms and common areas. School staff will routinely clean areas
that students and staff touch often with appropriate cleaners. Our
transportation department also cleans the regularly-touched surfaces
on the buses. Both departments use a product that is safe for the
environment and also destroys a broad range of germs and viruses
including H1N1 or swine flu.

7. All schools will reinforce the importance of respiratory etiquette.
Students will be reminded to cover noses and mouths with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing.

8. We ask that you know the signs and symptoms of the flu. They are:
fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit); cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy
nose, body aches, headache and feeling very tired. Some people may
also vomit and/or have diarrhea.

In summary, we will continue to collect information from all health
agencies and disseminate it to the school community as it becomes
available to us. Please check our website periodically for any new
information.

Just as we will confer with health experts, we encourage families to
do so as well. For more information about the flu, visit www.flu.gov
or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. All health decisions regarding your children
should be made in consultation with your family physician.

Sincerely,

James Parla
Superintendent of Schools