As schools tally illnesses due to the H1N1 pandemic flu, many area schools are changing attendance policies.

Albert Lea High School has changed a rule requiring students with four or more absences to take finals. 

“We aren’t going to require a student to take a final if it’s based on influenza-like symptoms, or a chronic illness-type thing,” said ALHS Principal Al Root.

Albert Lea High School no longer requires a doctor’s note, largely because state health officials are recommending the majority of flu illnesses not seek medical treatment.

The number of absences due to the flu are higher than other years, Root said. Typically, he said illnesses due to flu symptoms don’t start until around late fall or early winter.

“We haven’t seen this happen in a number of years where we’ve had this trend go through,” Root said.

Once a student has four or more absences, ALHS staff will look over the absences. Parents or guardians can contact the school with questions.

The policy to reduce grades after a student has four or more absences also changed at the beginning of the school year. Grades aren’t reduced if a parent calls the school saying a student is sick.

Finals are in January, and Root said students and parents should know students can choose to take final exams if they want to improve their grades.

Glenville-Emmons

Glenville-Emmons Superintendant Mark Roubinek also said they’re treating absences due to flu-like symptoms differently and are categorizing the absences from flu-like symptoms.

Most schools are following that policy, as absences with flu-like symptoms are categorized so schools can track the number of students and then report to the Minnesota Department of Health if they have a high number of absences.

While Glenville-Emmons School District doesn’t have the attendance incentives like ALHS, they, too, do not require a doctor’s note for flu-like illnesses.

Root said sick students should be sure to stay home. One key reason many schools made the change is because health officials strongly recommend sick students stay home to prevent further spread of the illness.

“You get students that are sick or have a high fever who shouldn’t be here, but they come because they don’t want to take the final. Really, they’re not helping the school,” Root said.

However, officials are recommending people with the flu not go to the medical center for tests or treatment unless they have preexisting health conditions like asthma, heart trouble or other illnesses.

Alden-Conger

At the same time, Alden-Conger Superintendent Joe Guanella said it’s important for schools to be informed about why a student is absent.

“You need to be here to get educated. If you’re not, we’re going to want to know why,” Guanella said.

Alden-Conger schools have changed attendance policies in the wake of the H1N1 illnesses. Students absent with a high fever and one of the other flu symptoms will not need a doctor’s note to be considered an excused absence.

“So far our numbers have been very, very low and we hope, knock on wood, that we can keep them there,” Guanella said.

Guanella said parents have been active in keeping children home when they’re sick. Schools are also making arrangements for children to stay caught up on work. 

“The parents need to understand that because the child will be home for a number of days, we will supply homework and they will be responsible for getting it done and getting it back to us,” Guanella said.