Pandemic Flu

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urge all schools in the U.S. to review their "all hazards" planning to ensure readiness for the presence of H1N1 in the new school year.

The list of recommendations for schools to address in their "all hazards planning" includes:

• Update emergency plans and contact lists
• Collaborate with health agencies at the local and state levels
• Develop response and communication plans addressing protocol for sending home students or staff with flu-like symptoms
• Let parents know they should be developing contingency plans for when their child must stay home or when schools are closed
• Plan for continuity of education through other systems, including use of community resources if possible
• Consider how school meals might be delivered to students in need
• Contribute to managing the pandemic by working with health departments to coordinate data on absences and rates of illness 

In order to help school districts develop pandemic flu policies and procedures, the WASB has written an issue of The FOCUS  on this topic. Sample pandemic plans and procedures from several Wisconsin school districts can be viewed below:

New - Janesville Pandemic Plan

Green Bay Pandemic Plan

Rhinelander Pandemic Flu Plan

Cumberland Pandemic Flu Plan