BPS Absences

Hundreds of students in Bismarck are missing school for one reason or another... but all signs po...  More »

Hundreds of students in Bismarck are missing school for one reason or another... but all signs point to the H1N1 flu. Reporter Amber Schatz takes a peek at the dropping attendance numbers in school. ("Our reaction was it's finally here, we're seeing the numbers, we've been told to expect.") Every week... School officials compare attendance numbers from one year ago. Last week... They saw the biggest spike in absences yet. (Dr. Paul Johnson/Bismarck superintendent) "We saw two schools that had 30 percent absences." Pioneer elementary is one of those schools... They had around 90 fewer students than usual answering roll call. But from elementaries to middle schools... to high schools...That number peaks an already steady stream of absences throughout the district. (Johnson) "I think we're going to see is individual schools like last week are going to spike and those numbers are going to go down and potentially some of those students may be immune at that time so we may or may not see numbers go back up again." The dramatic rise has school officials considering how to proceed if absences peak again... especially if H1N1 tampers with a safe and effective learning environment. (Johnson) "In those schools where 30 percent are gone, teachers are probably hesitant to start new material, so they're probably treading water for a few days, reviewing, trying not to start a new unit." The good news for now... superintendent Johnson says they can at least rely on what appears to be a quick bounce-back from those who are out sick. ( "Those were 70 percent last week and now today are already back up.") And while the vaccine hasn't been available to the masses yet... School officials will continue to watch for any alarming numbers... and keep the public informed. (Johnson) "We really have not seen parents panicking and to their credit they're really been following what we recommend in terms of keeping kids home if they're sick, good etiquette, good cooperation from parents and no panic." Amber Schatz, KX News. In Mandan... Superintedent Wilfred Volesky says they have to inform the Department of Health if there is more than a ten percent absenteeism... which hasn't happened yet.  « Less