JCPS continues to see rises in flu related absences. Last week there were 181 reported cases of the flu, which is seven times more than the week before when only 25 were reported.
The absences come as flu cases are on the rise citywide. According to the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness, there are about 1,200 confirmed cases of flu in the city.
Oldham County Schools announced they will be on NTI from Feb. 4 through Feb. 6 after more than 1,700 students and 200 staff members were absent. Eminence Schools in Henry County moved to NTI on Monday due to 27 absent staff members, which is nearly 45% of their staff. Some private schools in Jefferson County including Trinity High School and St. Michael also made the decision to go online last week.
Norton Children’s Hospital reports 25 kids were admitted on Monday, testing positive for the flu.
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JCPS will utilize Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) on Friday, Feb. 7, and Monday, Feb. 10 as a result of illness-related absences.
All athletic and extracurricular activities will continue as planned.
This comes after surrounding counties such as Bullit and Oldham have already called off multiple days of school.
On Feb. 6, Manual’s student absences were roughly 13%, an increase from yesterday Feb. 5, which was a rough 11%.
JCPS has made no updates regarding the possibility of NTI in the coming days.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Principal Dr. Michael Newman sent out a message to Manual staff regarding the current concern within the community regarding illness.
Dr. Newman makes it evident that health safety will be a priority for the school over the coming weeks.
“As we continue into today, and over the next few weeks, health safety needs to be a priority. Please contact the main office if you need an additional box of masks, hand sanitizer, sanitizer wipes, and/or tissues,” Dr. Newman said in the message.
Following, he mentions that JCPS has made no decision regarding closures or the implementation of NTI but Dr. Newman advises staff to be prepared if that a decision is made in the future.
Finally, Dr. Newman again makes it clear that JCPS has made no decision regarding school closures or NTI.
“Again, the message is “preemptive.” There has not been a decision regarding the use of NTI at this time,” Dr. Newman said.
On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Manual began distributing Chromebooks to students amid discussion of moving to NTI, per illness concerns across the district.
Students have been instructed by their teacher to go down to the auditorium to pick up Chromebooks, if needed, for distribution.
On Feb. 4, Manual had 246 students and 22 staff members absent.
Additionally, many surrounding school districts of JCPS transitioned into NTI or closed with no instruction today amid widespread illness concerns.
As Louisville schools begin to make decisions regarding widespread illness, multiple school districts around the state have already moved to NTI or have announced they will begin tomorrow, Feb. 5.
LaRue County Schools is moving to NTI starting Wednesday.
“While this isn’t what we want for our students, we are facing the threat of no classroom coverage and not having enough bus drivers to cover all of our routes,” LaRue County Schools said in a Facebook post.
Trimble County and Washington County Schools are also moving to NTI tomorrow due to “widespread illness.”
Spencer County and Marion County Schools started NTI today, Feb. 4, and will continue tomorrow, Feb. 5.
Bullitt County Public Schools (BCPS) announced on Tuesday, Feb. 4, that schools will be closed from Feb. 5-7 due to an increase in sickness.
The closure will not be utilizing NTI, according to BCPS this is to ensure deep cleaning and maximize instructional time.
“Many students and staff are too unwell to participate in virtual learning. A shift to NTI wouldn’t be effective if a large percentage of our school community is unable to engage,” BCPS said in a Facebook post.
In the announcement, BCPS encouraged families to take the necessary health precautions.
On Tuesday Feb. 4, 246 students were absent from duPont Manual High School, roughly 13% of the student population. Additionally 22 staff members were out. In comparison, Manual’s average daily absenteeism rate last semester was 4.8%.
On Saturday Feb. 1, JCPS sent an email to families and employees informing them of the uptick in flu cases.
“Keep symptomatic children home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours,” the letter reads.
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