Pandemic Flu Crisis Plan

by Darrel Stufflebeam

USD 323 Pandemic Flu Crisis Plan

 The purpose of the Pandemic Flu Crisis Plan is to assist in managing the impact of an influenza pandemic on schools during the following three stages of a Pandemic Flu Crisis:

 Stage One:  Reducing the spread of the virus within school facilities during a pandemic onset

 Stage Two:  Sustaining educational functions when schools remain open but experience higher-than-average student and/or staff absences

 Stage Three:  Sustaining business functions when schools are closed

 The superintendent, in consultation with appropriate government officials, will have the authority to declare district-wide pandemic stage alerts.  When doing so, the superintendent will use any and all methods of communication to inform all district internal and external publics.

 If the superintendent or other administrators becomes incapacitated, district duties will fall upon the following individuals in the following order of succession:

 1.      Dennis Post           

2.      Gary Glendening

3.      Debbie Edwards

 Information about relevant, specific Pandemic Flu viruses and home-bound activities for students will appear at the end of this document.

Stage One:  Pandemic Onset

 During a Stage One Alert the following actions will take place:

  1. Building and custodial staff will disinfect commonly-touched surfaces at intervals determined by the superintendent.  These duties will be a higher priority than other, non-pandemic mitigation duties.  The superintendent may require any and all faculty and staff to participate in surface disinfection.

  2. Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will be strictly excluded from school until symptom-free for 48 hours or until cleared by the school nurse.

  3. Other actions recommended by federal, state, and/or local officials

  4. The superintendent will have the discretion to cancel events and activities.

  5. Have hourly, non 12-month employees sign Unanticipated School Closing Agreement in the event we reach Stage Three.

Stage Two:  

 The same actions as a Stage One Alert will take place with the following additions and exceptions:

  1. Surface disinfections will occur more frequently—probably daily.

  2. Students and staff with flu-like symptoms will be strictly excluded from school until symptom-free for 72 hours or until cleared to return by the school nurse.

  3. Extra substitute teachers or other temporary personnel will be scheduled for duty by building principals prior to specific, known faculty absences.  Substitute teachers or other temporary personnel may be assigned teaching, custodial, secretarial, or cafeteria duties.  The superintendent and building principals will discuss personnel needs on a daily basis.

  4. The superintendent will have the discretion to cancel events and activities.

 Stage Three:

  1. A Stage Three Alert will result in one or more schools being closed until further notice.

  2. In regard to determining when or if to close schools, the Pandemic Influenza Mitigation Guidance and Kansas Closure Recommendations of the U.S. Department of Education, The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and Kansas Department of Education will be used.

  3. In the event schools are closed the District Office will stay open, if possible, with only essential personnel reporting for work. School missed will be made up to the 1116 hours required immediately after the final day of the published school calendar (unless waived by KSDE).

  4. Essential personnel would be determined based on the circumstances and severity of the pandemic.  The Superintendent would decide at that time who would need to report for work.  Unless otherwise determined by the Superintendent, essential building personnel shall be defined as the building principal and the head custodian for each building. 

  5. Hourly employee’s that are not under a 12-month contract would have the option of continuing to be paid and signing an agreement (attached) stating they would come back and work the extended school year (up to the required 1116 hours).

  6. Protection of records would continue as they are now with continued off site storage of records and computer back ups.

  7. The district nurse would handle protection of all working staff & visitors. He/she will provide all working employees with personal protective equipment as directed by the Pottawatomie County Health Agency.

  8. All reporting personnel would be expected to utilize personal protective equipment as deemed necessary by county authorities.

  9. All buildings should be checked for security daily by the principal and/or head custodian.

 Pandemic Flu

 What is a pandemic disease?

           It is an outbreak of an infectious disease that affects people over an extensive geographical area.  The pandemic flu that has been most recently in the news has also been called H1N1 or Swine Flu.

 What is H1N1(Swine) Flu?

Swine influenza virus (SIV) refers to influenza caused by any virus that is endemic to pig (swine) populations.

People who work with poultry and swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of infection from these animals if the animals carry a strain that is also able to infect humans. SIV can mutate into a form that allows it to pass from human to human. The strain responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak is believed to have undergone this mutation.

In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general.

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy?

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

  • Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

  • If you get sick, Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

 What are the symptoms?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in humans the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general. Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A few more patients than usual have also reported diarrhea and vomiting.

Because these symptoms are not specific to swine flu, a differential diagnosis of probable swine flu requires not only symptoms but also a high likelihood of swine flu due to the person's recent history. For example, during the 2009 swine flu outbreak in the United States, CDC advised physicians to "consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with acute febrile respiratory illness who have either been in contact with persons with confirmed swine flu, or who were in one of the five U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases or in Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset.   A diagnosis of confirmed swine flu requires laboratory testing of a respiratory sample (a simple nose and throat swab).

 What do you do if you are developing any of these symptoms of a Pandemic Flu that has already started?

1.         Take your temperature; write it and the time and date down.

2.         Call your doctor or health care provider asking for advice; give accurate            information and follow their advice.

3.         If you need something, ask a friend to help; make sure they are aware that you               may be contagious.

4.         Go to bed and stay warm.  Drink plenty of fluids, non-alcoholic, hot water, lemon          and honey is good.

5.         Call your place of work or e-mail saying you are unable to come in because of the         virus.  This is important as it tells them, why they have not seen you and so that         they can plan to cope without you for a couple of weeks.

7.         Whatever you do, you must avoid sneezing and coughing over other people.

8.         Keep your hands clean; remember to clean after coughing or sneezing.

  1. Stay in one room as much as possible.

  2. 10.       Take any medication provided by your doctor or health service.

    11.       Keep a record of your temperature, date and time, and how your symptoms      progress.

  3. Avoid smoking, alcohol, and going out in public.

 Note:  If you have no one to check on you please give very careful thought as to how you would summon help if your condition worsens severely.  In a pandemic, the health care system is only going to be able to cope with severe cases; they should not be overwhelmed by those who can manage their own illness.

 Information for Parents Regarding Home-Bound Activities During a Stage Three Alert

 If our schools would be forced to close for a period of time because of a pandemic, here are some websites that would be good resources for students learning at home.

Safe Searching, Games, Activities—All ages

http://www.ala.org/gwstemplate.cfm?section=greatwebsites&template=/cfapps/gws/default.cfm

http://www.beritsbest.com/

http://home.core.com/web/start/family

http://www.looksmart.com/eus1/eus317837/eus317922/r%3fl&iabw&

http://www.netsmartzkids.org/games/index.htm

http://www.wiredkids.org/safesites/index.html

 All Ages—

http://www.edhelper.com/

http://www.kidsreads.com/

http://www.learningplanet.com/

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html

http://www.mothers-home.com/activities/sherri2.htm

http://www.rif.org/parents/

http://www.storiestogrowby.com/

Primary Age

http://life.familyeducation.com/baby/toddler/34411.html

http://www.noggin.com/index.php

http://pbskids.org/rogers/

http://www.primarygames.com/

http://www.sesameworkshop.org/sesamestreet/

 Preschool-Upper Elementary

http://www.crayola.com/index.cfm

http://disney.go.com/playhouse/today/index.html

http://www.funschool.com/

http://www.funwithspot.com/

http://www.playkidsgames.com/

 Elementary

http://www.abcteach.com

http://disney.go.com/kids/today/index.html

http://fun.familyeducation.com/education/extracurricular-activities/33400.html

http://www.kidsgames.org/

http://www.mathplayground.com/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

http://pbskids.org/

http://www.rif.org/readingplanet/

http://www.starfall.com/

 Elementary-Middle School

http://blackdog.net

http://www.ltta.ca/

http://kids.ot.com/

http://www.poetry4kids.com/index.php

http://www.funbrain.com/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/

 Upper Elementary-Middle School

http://www.cyberkids.com/

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/units/units_with_books.htm

http://www.midcoast.com.au/~ttc/worksheet1.html

http://zone.msn.com/en/root/word.htm

http://www.sikids.com/

 Upper Elementary-High School

http://www.c3.lanl.gov/mega-math/

http://www.ceismc.gatech.edu/busyt

http://www.coolmath.com/

http://www.marcopolo-education.com/teacher/lesson_plan_content_index.aspx?ResourceType=2

http://www.madsci.org/

http://www.memory.loc.gov/ammem/cwphtml/cwphome.html

http://www.visualfractions.com/

http://www.wiseoldsayings.com/ultimate-word-games-guide.php

Unanticipated School Closing Agreement between Hourly, Non 12-Month Employees and USD 323

The school district reserves the right to not pay hourly, non 12-month employees if school is closed.

_          As an hourly employee working less than 12 months, I desire to continue to be paid during unanticipated school closings if the school district is able to do so.  In exchange, I agree to work after the normal school calendar year until state attendance requirements are met.

             I choose to not be paid if my school is closed.

 

 

 

________________________________________                            __________________

                           (employee)                                                                            (date)

 

 

________________________________________                            __________________

            (superintendent of schools)                                                                 (date)