Pandemic Flu What’s a school going to do?

1. Pandemic Flu What’s a school going to do? Kathy Steele, Ph.D. Superintendent Crawfordsville Community Schools

2. Participate on your County Crisis Team • Each county is required by law to have a Crisis Team • The school system with the largest number of students is to convene the Crisis Team • Each school system is required to have at least one School Safety Specialist • This person should be a member of the team

3. School officials Transportation director ESL teacher Nurse Counselor Crisis Team • Fire • Law enforcement • Public health • Emergency management • Mental health • Hospital • Red Cross

4. Why have a County Crisis Team? • Know the key players in a crisis • Plan as a team • Train together on needed drills • Share expertise and resources • Develop trusted relationships • Prepare and improve

5. What is Incident Command? • An official grouping of the key decision makers who will direct all the activities during a crisis • Public Health Officer • Emergency Management Official • Hospital Representative

6. Written Agreements County Emergency Management Plan • Use buildings for: • distribution of medicine • overflow from hospital • preparation of food • shelter • morgue

7. Knox-Box Rapid Entry System • Each building should have a system for emergency personnel to enter • Purchase through fire department • Fire department has the key • There is a master key of your school inside the box • Price $189

8. Plan AheadWho? What ? When? • Train administrators on Incident Command • Inform teachers, nurses, and secretaries about flu symptoms • Train custodians and bus drivers on disinfectant procedures • Prepare handouts and parent letters in English and Spanish • Practice hand washing and cover and cough with students • Order supplies

9. Order Supplies • Boxes of tissues • Rubber gloves • Plastic trash bags • Hand soap and alcohol-based hand wash • Bleach sanitizing wipes • Masks - N95 or surgical (for staff members) • Medicine for fever

10. Know Your Public Health Officials • Public Health Officer – The official who will close school if there is over 20% absenteeism • Public Health Preparedness Coordinator – A nurse who can train staff and parents about pandemic flu. • County Health Board – A group of local doctors who will help decide when to return to school and work

11. We have a lot of sick kids! • Designate one person and a backup at EACH school to be responsible for calling the Public Health Department to report the number of students absent • Identify the person at the Public Health Department who needs this information • Keep the Public Health officials informed

12. Limit the spread of germs • Wash hands frequently with soap and water • Cover coughs and sneezes with tissue • Stay home from school when you are sick and stay away from others • Don’t share food • Sanitize eating utensils

13. The clinic is full! • Designate a location to isolate sick children • Make a mat out of bulletin board paper • Write the name of the student on the end of the mat • Have tissues and waste baskets available • Create portable throw up containers (one gallon can with plastic bag liner and large rubber band) • Place a sign out sheet on a clip board

14. Plan for Instruction • Post assignments on the Web • Inform parents how to use State Standards and Frameworks from IDOE website to provide appropriate activities for home-based instruction • Mail or email assignments to students • Use radio or TV if available

15. Meeting the Needs of Special Populations • Non-English speaking students and families • Translate information sheets on flu • Assist at radio station and hospital • Low income families • Have a list of names and addresses ready • Contact “summer lunch” volunteer organizations to distribute food • Leave food outside of homes

16. Attendance Policies • Relax attendance policies for students and staff ill with the flu • Provide a “sick bank” for teachers if they have used all sick days

17. Revise the Calendar • Contact Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) for instructions on make up days • Add days at the end of the school year • Include classes on Saturday • Use vacation days (winter break, spring break) • Extend the school day

18. Mental Health • Use trained school counselors and approved mental health agencies • Some students will have family members who have died • Some children will relocate with other family members or foster homes and not return to school • Some staff members and students may die

19. Communications • Use multiple sources to communicate with staff members and parents. • Radio • Computer • Billboards • Television • Parent emergency cards

20. School Emergency Card • In case of an emergency, DO NOT CALL OR COME TO SCHOOL. Phone lines and streets must be kept open for emergency personnel. Information can be found at: • Local radio AM 1550 or FM 103.9 • Channels 6, 8, 13, or 18 • www.cville.k12.in.us • email

21. Payroll • Encourage staff members to have direct deposit • Work from home electronically • Cross train office staff • Hire retired central office personnel to backup employees with the flu

22. Paying Claims • There may not be a quorum of Board members to vote to pay claims at a meeting • Have the School Board approve a plan to pay specific bills without the approval of the Board during the time of a pandemic flu (utility bills, …)

23. Websites • Information on flu • www.pandemicflu.gov • www.cdc.gov/flu • Supplies • www.knoxbox.com