October 29, 2009

 

     As you've probably heard the best way to prevent this virus from spreading is to stay home when you feel sick.
     Local parents are apparently taking that advice to heart.
     Local school absenteeism is way up, but it doesn't mean all kids have swine flu.
     Schools in Corning-Painted Post, Horseheads and Elmira are all reporting higher than normal absentee rates compared to this time last year, some as much as 20-percent higher.
     C-PP closed an early education center earlier this week because so many students and staff were ill, but a spokesman tells us lots of those people are back to school.
     In Horseheads, the superintendent says he's glad parents and staff are following federal regulations.
     Ralph Marino says kids can easily make up the work they miss in class.
     "You're going to loose the first time instuction, because the best instruction is in the classroom from the certified teacher and that will be lost. That's just the reality of anytime a child is out sick, it doesn't matter what grade level a child is at. But, we provide all the assignments, all the reading material, the lecture notes, whatever was done that day we provide access to the student for that information," Marino, the Horseheads Superintendent said.
     Marino also says he's hoping absenteeism will be more controlled when H1N1 vaccine comes in.
     It is expected to come by mid-November.