Warren County school officials share plans to prepare for swine flu fight

Sunday, September 06, 2009
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
The Express-Times

Cooperation and communication are essential to combating the H1N1 virus -- or swine flu -- and Warren County administrators plan to be proactive on both fronts.

Warren County school and health officials met for a local summit on the virus Mondayin Washington Township, N.J.

County Executive Superintendent Kevin Brennan said the meeting was heavily attended and each of the county's school districts was in some way represented.

"We had a very good turnout, and considering how busy everyone is right now, I think that reflects how serious we are all taking this," Brennan said.

The need to keep lines of communication open was among the biggest themes to come out of the summit, according to Brennan.

"It was a great opportunity for all the people to see each other ... to share information, ask questions and establish a comfort zone," he said.

Challenges ahead

Washington Township Superintendent Roger Jinks said the district will be working hardest to change the mindset of parents and staff.

Teachers in the township are allotted 10 sick days each year under New Jersey law, but most don't use half of those, according to Jinks.

"The idea that we really do need them now to take care of themselves and stay home ... that's a difficult message for teachers to hear because they are so dedicated," Jinks said.

Warren County Technical School's Chief School Administrator Robert Glowacky said the district will, for once, be battling the drive for perfect attendance.

"It's going to be hard for people who feel a little off to stay home," Glowacky said.

Warren Hills Regional Superintendent Peter Merluzzi said the district would closely monitor absences and encourage proper hygiene. He said convincing children about the seriousness of the flu's contagious nature will be no easy task.

"It's hard to make kids understand that they are susceptible to things," he said. "They all believe they're immortal."

Planning for vaccination

While immunization, sure to be a hot topic as H1N1 vaccines are made available, was not discussed in great detail at Monday's summit, Brennan said foundations were laid for response once a vaccine is released.

"That's probably the one area that we have the least definitive information. There haven't been any final protocols released on the distribution of the vaccine," Brennan said.

Even so, Brennan suggested using the handful of high schools scattered throughout the county as potential sites.

The very nature of Warren Tech, a centralized location equipped with registered nurses and nurses in training, makes it an excellent candidate for immunization distribution, Glowacky said.

Merluzzi said Warren Hills Regional High School is available as well.

"We're ready to go whenever they need us, if they need us," Merluzzi said.

Closing school considered a last resort for district

Warren County school officials see shutting down schools as a last resort in the battle against H1N1.

Jinks said the only way he could envision a Washington Township school closing would be the result of an outbreak so severe it cripples district operations.

Jinks said if it appears the building itself was causing illness, the district would shut down school to investigate.

"There'd be a myriad of things that would go into that decision," he said. "We'd make a decision that was best for kids."

Glowacky said the same goes for Warren Tech.

"That's where we don't want to go," he said of closing. "It would really have to be a very serious condition."

The institution of online courses and communication over the past two years can be put to good use in the event of a closing, Glowacky said.

Merluzzi said high school students stand to lose the most if school is closed because of an outbreak.

"I'm not closing if I can prevent it at any cost," Merluzzi said.