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Fewer cases of flu, school boards report
Absentee rates are falling
Karen Seidman
The Gazette
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The number of absences has finally started to decline at both West Island school boards, suggesting that the H1N1 virus has peaked – at least for now.
At the Lester B. Pearson School Board, the percentage of total school board absences was at its lowest level earlier this week – 5 per cent – since the board began keeping track of them in October. Of the total student population, only 0.8 per cent were reportedly absent due to flu-like symptoms, according to communications officer Daniela Scoppa.
Scoppa said that at its peak on Nov. 6, the overall absentee rate was 12.9 per cent, with 5.16 per cent of the student population reporting flu-like symptoms.
At the Commission Scolaire Marguerite Bourgeoys, communications officer Brigitte Léonard said the absences this week were also a bit lower than last week. The percentage of total school board absences was 3.7 per cent early this week.
Both boards are plowing ahead with plans to bus students to vaccination centres for the H1N1 vaccine. So far, the operation has been going well, but the boards still have not received any assurances from the provincial government that costs incurred by the operation will be covered by the government.
The Pearson board started its off-island busing Monday with four schools. The on-island operation will begin next Monday.
About 400 to 500 students were bused (and vaccinated) on the first day.
The numbers were similar at Marguerite Bourgeoys, which also started busing students to vaccination centres on Monday. Of 2,250 students who were eligible for busing, about 580 students opted to go to the vaccination centre.
Léonard said schools will get notices about five days ahead of time when they are going to offer the service to students, so notes and permission slips can go out to parents. She said the operation should last about four weeks for the board.
Nan Beaton, chairperson of the Pearson’s Central Parents Committee, said some parents are reluctant to take advantage of the service being offered by schools because they want to be with their children when they are vaccinated or they are concerned about side effects.