WEST BEND – Health officials are stressing everyone follow commonsense precautions, as the number of swine flu cases has reached 16 states.
In Wisconsin, public schools are dealing with the threat on an individual basis.
“This is the first we know of it in Wisconsin,” said WIAA assistant director Tom Shafranski. “Schools should be following directions (from their health department) and if the school has to close that would include athletic competitions and practices as well.”
Shafranski the WIAA is closely monitoring the situation and working with their sports advisory committee, maintaining updates on the national front and within the state. “Once the Texas schools began to close we kept a close eye on them and determined how that might impact us here in Wisconsin.”
The virus has already been confirmed in several states — including South Carolina.
There have been schools closed in roughly 100 school systems. Texas authorities suspended high school sports.
“We’re going to be flexible and follow the directions the school takes based upon the information provided by their medical advisors,” he said. “The WIAA has nothing to do with the closing of schools. We simply respond and react to however that closing is determined and work to support the direction of school officials on how long that closing might last.”
Milwaukee Public School officials reminds students that classes at four schools have been closed and programming was suspended by the Milwaukee health commissioner in the wake of a swine flu investigation according to MPS spokeswoman Roseann St. Aubin.
High schools affected include Milwaukee Riverside University High School, 1615 East Locust Street.
Meanwhile, school officials are trying to figure out how they will decide when to reopen four campuses that closed Thursday following two probable swine flu cases detected in Milwaukee.
“We received a notice from the WIAA today, which I shared with my administration and the spring and summer coaches,” said Kewaskum athletic director Jason Piittmann.
“If we are forced to close school, we will proceed very cautiously - probably in a similar manner to how we handle snow days. Snow days are left up to administrative discretion as to whether or not practices and events can take place. However, I am always VERY conservative in my judgment in those situations and would be even more so if this would happen,” said Piittmann.
The state Department of Public Instruction sent letters to school administrators across Wisconsin, saying students at schools that are ordered to close because of swine flu concerns don't have to make up those days later.
Students at schools that aren't ordered closed can receive excused absences if their parents tell the school they're keeping kids home because of concerns about swine flu, said St. Aubin.
