Schools extend MEAP testing as flu hits student population

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

While nearly 200 schools in Michigan closed last week because of high numbers of students absent with the flu, Tecumseh, Britton-Macon and Clinton schools did not. That’s not to say that the districts didn’t have high numbers of students falling ill. All three schools peaked at nearly 20 percent of the student body absent.

Both Clinton and Tecumseh had as many as 19 percent at the elementary level. Britton posted a high of 17 percent absent. All three schools are recovering their student numbers this week, but the high number of absences couldn’t have come at a worse time. All Michigan school districts were in the final week of the Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) testing last week.

“Lots of kids missed the MEAP,” said Britton-Macon Area School Supt. Chuck Pelham. All three schools applied for and were granted extensions in order to meet the minimum numbers of students required for testing to meet Adequate Yearly Progress. Clinton only sought extensions for the elementary and high school where the bulk of the students missed school. Clinton Superintendent David Pray said the high school was hardly hit.
Britton has used its extension to reduce the number of students who missed the MEAP to five. Tecumseh also asked for an extension.

“We continued with the MEAP testing,” Supt. Mike McAran said of Tecumseh. “We only asked for an extension and we got it. This gives us enough time to get everyone tested.”

The actual numbers of H1N1 cases isn’t clear in any one of the schools, but Pray said cases were confirmed in Clinton and Tecumseh had three confirmed cases.
All districts worked to keep rooms and equipment disinfected last week and continue to do so. They are encouraging students and staff to continue being diligent about hand washing.

The Lenawee County H1N1 vaccination clinics have opened at various local schools and will continue through early December at various locations throughout Lenawee County. Schools have scheduled clinic times for students with Tecumseh already offering them Oct. 28 and 29. Clinton will have the student clinics Monday, Nov. 2, in the elementary and high schools and Britton will have the student clinic Wednesday, Nov. 18. All the student clinics run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Open clinics are for priority groups that include children and young adults ages 6 months through 24 years, pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than six months of age, health care and emergency medical service workers and people ages 25 through 64 years, who have certain health care conditions such as HIV, diabetes, or heart or lung disease. Open clinics in all three schools run from 4 to 7 p.m. with Tecumseh holding its open clinic at the high school on Oct. 29, Clinton holding its open clinic on Nov. 2 at Clinton High School, and Britton holding its open clinic Nov. 18 in the community center.