GCCS to vaccinate against H1N1

Clark County

Discussion

October 27, 2009

Two schools will start Thursday

By TARA HETTINGER The News and Tribune Tue Oct 27, 2009, 10:06 PM EDT

Greater Clark County Schools will start vaccinating children against the H1N1, or swine flu, at two schools Thursday.

That announcement was made during the school board’s special session Tuesday afternoon.

Travis Haire, assistant superintendent, said the two schools, Jonathan Jennings and Pleasant Ridge elementaries in Charlestown, were chosen based on both their attendance rates and enrollment, since only a small amount of the vaccine is available so far. He said the health department is getting more shipments on a weekly basis.

He said he expects about half of the students there to take advantage of the free vaccination. He added that parental permission is required for administration of the vaccination.

“After that, we’ll debrief and meet with the health department to pick the schools where we should go to from there,” Haire said.

Students 9 years old and younger will need more than one dose. The second dose will be given in about 30 days, Haire said. All students in elementary schools will receive the nasal mist. Those older will receive the vaccine [shot], Haire said, adding that there will be exceptions for those with special circumstances. Meanwhile, Haire said he is still monitoring attendance rates at the schools to look for trends and is reporting that information to the health department.

Also at the meeting

• The board approved the 2010 budget. At the last school board meeting Oct. 13, Chief Financial Officer Frank Collesano presented the board with his budget plan, which includes reducing the district’s teaching and assistant teaching staff by 45 positions next year. Of that 45, 19 would be regular teachers. Seven of those would be special education teachers and the final 19 would be special education assistants, Collesano said.

He said then that he hopes all of those cuts can be made through attrition.

• The board approved two consulting contracts — one with Dewey Hensley and the other with Susan French. Superintendent Stephen Daeschner said the two are the best principals he knows.

The contract states that each consultant will be paid $3,000 for 40 hours of work, which includes 10 hours of planning and 30 hours of presentation.

Daeschner said the two will consult with a group of teachers and principals. He said they already have had one session, where about 60 people showed up. He said he plans on there being nine more sessions.