Keeping tabs on the swine flu
UFT members, from left, Barry Amperm, Philip Sylvester, Shernice Blackman, Meryl Wittenberg, Neil Avrut, Sandra Dunn-Yules and Maureen Scarnati pose with sanitizers and face masks the union supplied NYC schools during the flu outbreak. Photo by Miller Photography.
Schools are reopening and closing across the state like pop-ups on a computer screen as new cases of swine flu are discovered and others are resolved. As New York Teacher went to press, 230 cases had been reported in the state.
In the first serious case of swine flu in New York City, an assistant principal of a Queens middle school had been hospitalized May 13 and was on a ventilator, officials announced. The city closed that school, and two others with large clusters of flu-like symptoms.
School cases have also been reported in Nassau, Suffolk, Erie, Onondaga, Saratoga, Chautauqua, Washington and Westchester counties.
Deer Park schools in Nassau County closed after four students came down with swine flu. Buses and buildings were scrubbed, while sporting events and AP tests were rescheduled.
Custodians have been cleaning classrooms, restrooms, buses and locker rooms of schools that were closed or had suspected cases of swine flu.
School and hospital nurses have been caring for the ill, while teachers, administrators and union leaders have been providing updates and alerts to communities and health centers.
"From the time that this story broke, NYSUT has been vigilant in informing our members of the concerns and risks associated with the H1N1 flu virus," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue. "Our hospital nurses, school nurses and custodial staff have all responded."
Donahue said the situation further emphasizes the need for emergency preparedness plans.
At a meeting of NYSUT's Health and Safety Task Force, Baldwin Teachers Association retiree Robin Phillips reported how her district set up a chain of command, had custodians cleaning several times a day and sent alerts to faculty and staff.
Edward Ramirez, director of health services, and Mike Sheehan, director of facilities, said the school set up a daily conference call with Nassau County health officials for updates.
School nurses attended faculty meetings to update teachers and provide information to help to prevent the spread of sickness. They were also provided masks.