Schools and Swine Flu---A Rant

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Over the weekend my DD14 wasn't feeling so great. I didn't think much of it, she stayed in, rested, and studied for her upcoming regents exams. Monday morning before school I went to give her a supportive, "you can do it" hug and realized she was burning up. She had a fever of 101.5. I figured she had a virus, but because there are no make ups for the exams I let her go for her 1 exam for the day, but told her to go straight to the teacher, tell her what was going on, and if there was a way she could make it up t call me and I'd come get her. She went and was told no make ups, no exceptions, so she suffered though a 3 and a half hour exam. After it was over I took her to the doctor. The diagnosis, likely Swine Flu.

As per the county health dept, she is not permitted back in school for one full week. I called the school right away, they got back with me this morning saying she's have to make up 7 classes in summer school! My DD has a few friends with similar symptoms who are still going to school, which is how my DD probably got this in the first place. I feel like we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and gtting peanilized for it. Now she has to worry about these exams she is fully prepared to take all summer and we have to rearrange our summer plans to allow for summer school.

Anyway, I needed to rant, yes, but also if any of you have any ideas that might help I'd love to hear them. We have asked for a tutor to come and give her the tests. She could take them outside to not worry about germs so much. They have not yet replied.

Seeing as we have not traveled anywhere since Disney in November, she is likely not the only one in the school to have it. (Like I said, we know of a few who suspect they have it but don't want to go to the doctor because once the suspect a child has it, they are not permitted to allow them back in school for a week.) Seems that they need to make a better option then August.

Thanks.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Over the weekend my DD14 wasn't feeling so great. I didn't think much of it, she stayed in, rested, and studied for her upcoming regents exams. Monday morning before school I went to give her a supportive, "you can do it" hug and realized she was burning up. She had a fever of 101.5. I figured she had a virus, but because there are no make ups for the exams I let her go for her 1 exam for the day, but told her to go straight to the teacher, tell her what was going on, and if there was a way she could make it up t call me and I'd come get her. She went and was told no make ups, no exceptions, so she suffered though a 3 and a half hour exam. After it was over I took her to the doctor. The diagnosis, likely Swine Flu.

As per the county health dept, she is not permitted back in school for one full week. I called the school right away, they got back with me this morning saying she's have to make up 7 classes in summer school! My DD has a few friends with similar symptoms who are still going to school, which is how my DD probably got this in the first place. I feel like we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and gtting peanilized for it. Now she has to worry about these exams she is fully prepared to take all summer and we have to rearrange our summer plans to allow for summer school.

Anyway, I needed to rant, yes, but also if any of you have any ideas that might help I'd love to hear them. We have asked for a tutor to come and give her the tests. She could take them outside to not worry about germs so much. They have not yet replied.

Seeing as we have not traveled anywhere since Disney in November, she is likely not the only one in the school to have it. (Like I said, we know of a few who suspect they have it but don't want to go to the doctor because once the suspect a child has it, they are not permitted to allow them back in school for a week.) Seems that they need to make a better option then August.

Thanks.

I would bring this to the superintendents office if you haven't already. I cannot believe they would require summer school for missing 1 exam.

I certainly would be horrified that they would rather a child with swine flu come to school to infect an entire class than provide a make up date. I would be raising a complete stink. Editorials in the paper.... you name it.

 

[cogero]

I would call the head of the school districts office and the local news if you get no satisfaction they need to be aware of this. Why does she have to go to summer school can she not take the exams at the end of the summer worse case scenario.

I think exceptions need to be made for cases like this.

 

[murcor]

I would be furious!! You need to take this to a higher level!

1st of all I take the H1N1 very seriouisly and if my children were going to this school where there is a possible infection, they would not be returning!

2nd The school needs to review their policies and have exceptions for cases like this!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Thanks everyone for your suggestion, I am making a list while I wait to hear back from the school on my request. My next step will be the superintendent for usre, I was just hoping they would do the right thing before having to go that route.

Just to clear a couple things up. She is not missing 1 exam, she is missing 5. Our kids are required to get a regents diploma which I admit I am new to. She is my oldest and we never had such a thing when I was in school. But basically even if she has 100% in the class, she cannot get credit for the class without passing the exam with a C or better. So she MUST take the tests. Also, I was not aware that there was an outbreak big or small) at her school. In fact had it not been exams, I would have kept her out of school and let it passed, I only took her to the doctor hoping he could give her something to make her feel a little better to get through the tests. I was shocked when he said Novel H1N1, that never even passed in my mind.

Sending her in for her one exam was the only time I have EVER sent a kid to school sick of my 3 kids. In fact I always keep them home for a full day after feeling better to be sure we don't spread anything. I didn't want to send her, but felt our hands were tied. I figured it was a virus and they would not let her make up the exam.

Anyway, I appreciate the feedback, I am just really annoyed. Right now I should be caring for my sick kid not worrying about this, and she should be able to get better and not be in tears picturing a summer full of summer school. She took almost all AP classes this year, that summer school would be awful.

Thanks, I will post updates. And I love the news idea, I will put that on the list just in case...

 

[El&Asmom]

I agree with others. If she is being forced to stay out of school for the exams, they should make an exception and find a way for her to take these exams off site or in one week. Punishing her by forcing her to go to summer school for a one week illness is beyond unfair. I could see if she had mono and had to miss most of the semester, but for one week they should make an exception. Sometimes you wonder who is making the rules.

 

[Nancyg56]

I would be furious!! You need to take this to a higher level!

1st of all I take the H1N1 very seriouisly and if my children were going to this school where there is a possible infection, they would not be returning!

2nd The school needs to review their policies and have exceptions for cases like this!!

First of all, I agree that I would take this to a higher level, if the child is not allowed in school there should be provisions in place so that she is not penalized.

Yesterday my DD was notified that there are reported cases of likely H1N1 virus in my DGD's school system. School is not canceled, children who are not feeling well are not to come to school. This is the last week of school. I called my sister who works in a children's hospital. Her DH is an ER Dr. She told me to just take the same precautions as if we were preventing the common cold. Wash hands, cover noses and mouths, and if you feel safe going to the Mall then feel safe going to school. Use common sense and your kids will be okay.

Her collegues think most of the infection is coming from shopping trips, Malls etc. Please don't freak out over this virus, more people got sick and more died from the flu's that normally go around during the winter months.

 

[mickeyluvr004]

I would also contact the Supers office, it's not her fault that she got sick and why punish her, I just love these schools do they make up rules as they go? All the school systems should have a plan as to what to do in this case especially with alot of schools this past year closing down due to H1N1. Hope she is feeling better I know with my DD she is in 4th grade new school this past year and her sickest I don't know what is in that school but makes me wonder why she has been soo sick I actually think she missed all days allowed to miss but I beleive it is something in that school (very old building) Good luck and keep us informed

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

An updatde, but first another comment.

I am not freaking out over the flu itself. It isn't that bad and she would rather have this then the regular flu or the stomach flu. We are very aware that far less people have have died from this then the regular flu. That is not my concern. My concern is that they have an obvious outbreak and are having kids come to school sick rather then getting better for fear of their grades.

OK, the update. First, I don't completely understand regents exams. My DH and I did not grow up in New York state and she is our oldest, so we are learning, along with her it seems. We thought all of her finals were "regents", they are not. She has completed one that was (yesterday, sick, but mostly completed). She has just 2 more, the others are regular finals. The regular finals are controlled by her teachers and she will be able to make them up next week. The 2 regents exams are controlled by the state. She will not be able to make them up until August. we were supposed to be gone then, but we will have to rearrange to make this happen. I disagree with it, but because the tests are controlled by the state, I would be fighting the state and let's face it, that will take me past August 13th, her test day.

I am working on an e-mail to send to the health dept, to urge them to work on a sooner retake day, maybe early July, but don't expect to get that done in time for this year, though it would be nice to know that in the future if kids are sick there will be a better option for them.

Since last night, we have heard of dozens of kids with similar symptoms who, probably because their parents were more familiar with these tests, have opted to fight through the illness and take their tests. This goes against my gut. I always keep my sick kids at home, to get them feeling better and to keep the germs at home.

So, I broke the news to my DD. She will be able to take all the other tests next week. We are looking on the bright side, at least she is not a Senior as without the exams she would not be able to get her diploma.

It is just so annying because they obviously have an outbreak and seem to be looking the other way being the last week of school. Anyway, thanks for your listening ears and advise. I appreciate it. I am now off to work on that e-mail to the state and county health department.

 

[robinb]

The diagnosis, likely Swine Flu.

Likely? Was she tested? I would be totally PO'd if it turned out to just be an everyday virus which was misdiagnosed and she's feeling better on the day of the other Regents exams.

I'm not from NY, but I remember a big scandal a while back over cheating on the Regent exams. IIRC, all the kids take the exam across the state at the same time. My guess is that they will be rewriting the exam for August and she won't be able to take it any sooner.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Likely? Was she tested? I would be totally PO'd if it turned out to just be an everyday virus which was misdiagnosed and she's feeling better on the day of the other Regents exams.

I'm not from NY, but I remember a big scandal a while back over cheating on the Regent exams. IIRC, all the kids take the exam across the state at the same time. My guess is that they will be rewriting the exam for August and she won't be able to take it any sooner.

You are right, she will not be able to take the test before August. I don't like it but I have accepted it.

As for being tested, no, she was not. Our county has suspended the testing on children and is now treating every case as though it was H1N1. This means a week out of school for all kids who are seen by a doctor with the symptoms. Our doctor says it stinks because he now cannot be sure this is what she has and has to keep her out of school even if, as he put it, she was 100% fine the next day. Basically you are being encouraged not to take the kids to the doctor by the health dept.

Anway, she is no better today, still all the symptoms and the fever, but there are far worse thangs for sure. It just stinks when you fell like you are being punished for doing the right thing.

 

[robinb]

Anway, she is no better today, still all the symptoms and the fever, but there are far worse thangs for sure. It just stinks when you fell like you are being punished for doing the right thing.

You have my sympathy. That really does stink. I hope she feels better soon.

Will she have to take the classes over the summer for the exam or will she just be able to take the exam?

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

You have my sympathy. That really does stink. I hope she feels better soon.

Will she have to take the classes over the summer for the exam or will she just be able to take the exam?

Tecnically she is signed up for the classes, but they said she can just skip them and just show up on test day. Probably we will have her go for some to be sure she is prepared (I hate to think how much she will forget over the next 2 months), but I am not going to make her spend weeks in classes she already took and did well in.

 

[TinaLala]

Except for the age and the diagnosis I'm going through the EXACT same thing. DD9 had a temp of 100.6 on June 10. On June 12 she wasn't feeling great but they were going on a field trip so we let her go. The day was extremely hot and they only recieved one drink the entire day and she got heat exhaustion. In fact 1/2 of her class went home sick. DD9 was clocked in at the nurse with a fever of 100.8 - the nurse told us the she would need to stay out of school for 7 days per state mandate for any fever over 100.6. So we laid low all weekend and she stayed out of school on Monday. DH took DD9 to the doctors who gave her a clean bill of health - cold no temp no issues, but a bad cough from post nasal drip. Today she goes to school because they have a BBQ at noon. 10am the nurse calls - you have to come pick her up, she's not allowed back into school until tomorrow because of her fever.

So here she is feeling fine sitting on the couch out of school because of the nurse. Hello she's in 4th grade and the grades are already in, they aren't even doing anything. I don't understand - the doctor says she doesn't have anything - no flu, no bronchitis, nothing but allergies with sinus.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Yep, that's the new one week rule...

 

[daleswife]

That sucks!!!!! Sorry!!!

 

[poegirl30]

I'm so sorry for your dd! I'm not sure about the exams that she has to take, but I do know that when my DD took her AP exams in May, they were pretty strict about no makeups. It's so sad to put high school kids under that kind of pressure. As a teacher, I can't imagine a child being sick and taking an important exam like that. I don't understand why they can't have earlier alternate dates/exams for circumstances like these, so that students can take it while the material is still fresh in their minds.

Anyway, I hope that she does well when she is finally able to take them!

 

[deedeetoo]

We are going through it too. My ds8 was sick today. DH stayed home with him and took him to to the doctor. They said it wasn't flu - didn't even test him. Said if the sore throat doesn't go away in a couple days to bring him back for a strep test.

So what does the school say? They call my house this afternoon and say he is out for 7 days. They don't care that the doctor says its not the flu. He gets to go back to school next Tuesday which just happens to be the last day. He misses the field trip, the big end of year celebration, and step up day (when they find out who their teacher is next year and who will be in their class). I wouldn't mind if he were really sick but dh says his fever is already gone.

 

[Aliceacc]

Just an explanation for those of you who don't know what a Regents is:

New York State offers Regents exams to high school students at the end of most courses. The exam tests mastery of the material in the course. It's a state wide exam, given at a particular time on a particular date-- there's a very tiny little window in which the exams may start. (That way, a kid can't finish the exam, call his cousin elsewhere in the state, and give him the answers.)

They're given in June, August, and January.

OP, I imagine your daughter is a Junior, and that's why she's taking so many at once? Is there any way she could defer some of the easier exams till January??

 

[Aliceacc]

While I'm sure it's no consolation, here's an article on a similar problem caused by snow, taken from www.uticaod.com :

Closed schools cancel Regents testing.OBSERVER-DISPATCH


Observer-Dispatch
Posted Jan 27, 2009 @ 09:52 PM

.Students who were unable to take Regents exams Wednesday will have to wait until June to make up those tests, the state Department of Education said.

Many local school districts closed Wednesday due to a winter storm. Utica and Rome were two of a handful of districts that remained opened all day.

Because Regents exams are being administered this week, the tests in six subjects had to be cancelled at schools that closed, which makes the three hours of testing Tuesday no longer valid.

One of the affected tests was the second part of a six-hour English exam. Students unable to complete the test Wednesday will have to retake the entire thing in June when different versions of the test will be given, Department of Education spokeswoman Jane Briggs said.

“Allowing makeup exams would compromise the integrity of the exams,” Briggs said. “If my daughter has a cousin in New York City taking the exam today and then she takes the exam on Friday as a makeup, there's the opportunity for her cousin to pass on the questions.”

“That's just policy,” she said.

The exception will be for seniors who already have failed the exam once before. Their first part will be scored to see if they qualify to take the component retesting in May to help them qualify for graduation.

Students must pass five Regents exams to earn a Regents diploma, including the two-part English.

Notre Dame High School junior Tom Appleton, 16, said he and his classmates were frustrated over the policy.

“We're disappointed,” he said. “We all thought we did pretty well on the first part, and now we have to retake it and who knows if it's going to be harder or not. The storm was predicted for a couple days, and it affected a majority of the state. It seems like the state could have come up with a plan to move the test to Friday.”

New Hartford Superintendent Robert Nole said he and other district leaders will request that Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES Superintendent Howard Mettelman ask the state to hold a makeup day since so many schools were closed.

“It happened a number of years ago,” Nole said.

Mettelman said he believed some exam had been offered for a retest a number of years ago, but said he did not think it was in every subject.

“I'll have to look at the numbers and see what the ramification was and talk to superintendents and see what the options are from the state,” Mettelman said.

Superintendents across New York did contact the state this week to see if they could open just to administer the exam, but the state was firm that if it was unsafe to open school, the test would not be given.

Deb Morehouse, a mother of a junior at Notre Dame, said her son took the first part of the English test and missed the second because the school closed.

“As a parent, I want to know why they can't count the first one,” she said. “It's not fair for the kids who spent three hours taking the Regents yesterday. Come June, these juniors are going to have four other tests. That's a lot.”

Regents cancellations are not abnormal, Briggs said.

“It's January in New York,” she said. “It's not unusual to have bad weather and have to close schools.”

Utica Superintendent Jim Willis said the Regents testing was a factor in his decision to keep the schools open, but he said ultimately the decision came down to the safety of students.

The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school district released elementary students early Wednesday, but kept high school students with Regents tests the entire day.

Regents exams are scheduled through Friday morning but the worst of the storm is expected to have passed already with less than an inch of snow expected Thursday.