H1N1 concerns broached at 'brown bag' session
GRAYSLAKE -- Students in Grayslake School District 46 may begin wearing surgical masks to help prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.
According to Superintendent Ellen Correll, cases of H1N1 have been reported in all of the district's eight school buildings. Correll sent a letter to district families Oct. 15 saying the district was taking precautions recommended by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Lake County Health Department.
(Thomas Delany Jr./News-Sun)
During a lunchtime forum on Monday parents, including Shannon Smigielski, pushed for an effort to sanitize classrooms and school buses and to keep parents better informed.
"We haven't even had a vaccine yet," Smigielski said. "I really would like to see more done with kids being kept home for a longer time."
Smigielski also suggested rounding up volunteers to regularly sanitize schools and asked what bus companies were doing to fight the bug.
Another parent asked whether students could wear masks to school. Correll said masks are available at every school office.
That parent suggested that principals send letters to families explaining that some students might begin wearing masks and not to be "concerned" and to not "make fun" of mask wearers.
"The kids could decorate the masks," another parent said.
"Right in time for Halloween," Correll said to chuckles.
Correll, who said she would forward suggestions to building principals and school nurses, was also asked to consider adding the Health Department's H1N1 page as a link on the school Web site.
Correll holds the brown bag forums about four times a year at the Grayslake Public Library.
"I get a lot of comments I wouldn't normally hear," Correll said.
About a dozen parents attended Monday's forum. Several also raised concerns over math instruction.
Heather Lennartz wants the district to improve instruction to advanced math students beginning in third and fourth grades. Currently, students who perform above grade level in math complete advanced worksheets, but receive little in the way of instruction.
"I can honestly say my son has been taught nothing new in the area of mathematics since February," said Lennartz, who is asking the district to consider grouping math students by ability.
Correll said the district is interested in improving math instruction.
"The challenge is doing it within budget and yet meeting student needs," she said.
That matter will be taken up during a school board meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
