Illness prompts school closure

DAYTON–The Dayton School District closed Friday, December 13, due to elevated absentees, and the Starbuck School District independently opted for early dismissal as well.

Over the week, absentee rates rose well above 10%, and on Friday, December 13, Dr. Lewis Neace, Public Health Physician, encouraged school closure as a precautionary measure. In addition, all sport events were canceled as well.

The past week has experienced an influx of flu and respiratory illnesses. Dr. Neace thought it best to allow students to rest and recover at home, and taking Friday off gave them a three-day weekend to recuperate.

"The school reports to the health department on absentees," said Jan Strohben, Public Health Administrator. "If the rates are ten percent or more, the public health department assesses the circumstances and issues a determination."

In Starbuck, School Superintendent Mark Pickel independent of the Columbia County Public Health Department, made the decision to call for an early dismissal due to excessive illnesses absentees.

"We had 23 students in the Starbuck School, of which seven students, one staff member were absent, and four other students came to school sick," said Connie Boyer, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. "Superintendent Pickel contacted the ESD for the protocol on how many students need to be absent to constitute closure or early dismissal. After speaking with them, he decided to call early dismissal Friday morning at 11:30 a.m. In addition, the Starbuck Student Winter Performance scheduled at Riverwalk Assisted Care was canceled to prevent further exposure." Boyer continued.

The best advice to preventing many illnesses is to wash your hands. "Our nurses recommend if you are sick, stay home, use a mask if you need to be out, and wash your hands with soap and warm water-a method more effective than hand sanitizer," said Strohben.