Several schools in western Kenosha County have reported an unseasonable spike in student absences due to flu-like symptoms. But the number of absences are far from forcing school closures officials said Thursday.

Lakewood School in Twin Lakes, Trevor School and Randall School, all elementary districts, have been the worst hit in the county, said Cynthia Johnson, Kenosha County Division of Health Nursing Director. At one point this week 17 percent of the students at both Trevor and Lakewood were absent, compared to a typical absentee percentage in the low single digits.

“It is the percentage we are monitoring. Ten percent is the average (countywide) for students,” Johnson said of the numbers reported to the health department in recent weeks. “Five percent is the average for teachers.”

Johnson said schools are being asked to discern between absences due to flu-like symptoms and other absences. If the reported percentage of absent students or teachers is high it could trigger a school closure.

“What we are seeing in other school districts throughout the state (is closures) at 40 percent,” Johnson said. “We are nowhere near that.”

Schools in 14 cities statewide have shut down due to the number of reported absences. Canterbury Elementary in Greendale, Hartland South, Walworth Elementary and Middle School, and Morningstar Lutheran in Jackson were closed Thursday. Canterbury Elementary reported 160 of 370 (40 percent) of its students were out sick.

A new state law allows schools to cancel classes without having to make up the days.

“We are working closely with the school administrators in the county,” Johnson said. “If there are enough teachers to teach the children we will keep the schools open.”

Unseasonable numbers

Lakewood Administrator Rebecca Vail said the number of absences at the rural K-8 school in October compares to what it typically expects in January.

“We are seeing a higher percentage of absences than we usually see this time of year,” Vail said.

Administrators said they have been looking for a pattern or an increase from day-to-day, but are not finding one.

“We are keeping a close eye on it,” Steve Bloom, administrator at Randall School, said. “We have four confirmed cases of H1N1.”

Bloom wonders if the unseasonable weather is making the problem worse.

Trevor-Wilmot administrator George Steffen said attendance changes throughout the day as students spike high fevers and go home.

Sixty-one students, or 17 percent of the children at Trevor School, were absent Tuesday. The school houses children in grades 3-8. That number improved to 30 absent on Wednesday. There are five confirmed cases of flu at the school, which Johnson said could be H1N1 related.

Administrators expect the number of actual cases is higher than confirmed given some students are not being tested.

Taking precautions

Steffen said letters are being sent home to parents if there is a flu-like absence in their child’s classroom. Other schools are using similar communication tools, are sending home flyers about flu prevention and are posting information and links on their Web sites.

In addition to the thorough cleaning measures being undertaken by custodians, Wilmot High School Superintendent Bill Heitman said the school is increasing its air exchange.

“We have increased our air flow from the outside,” he said. “We are trying to keep the air as clean as possible.”

The high school has also started its Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam testing earlier than most districts in anticipation absences will increase. The district wants to make sure the greatest number of students possible take the standardized test, Heitman said.