• • Jackson County Pilot

Flu activity at Jackson County Central schools has been normal so far this fall, according to a report from Superintendent Todd Meyer to the school board Monday.

No cases of H1N1 flu have been reported in the county, but 30 students — typical for this time of year — were out recently with flu-like symptoms.

“We don’t have any doctor confirmed cases (of H1N1) in Jackson County or at JCC,” Meyer said.

Starting last Wednesday, Oct. 14, seven students reported flu-like symptoms to the school nurse.

“When parents call in to say their children are sick, we asked them if they’ve had headaches, a temperature over 101 degrees, sore throat or nausea,” Meyer said, adding that all are symptoms of influenza and the district is erring on the side of caution. “If there’s a yes to any of those symptoms, the state wants us to mark them down as having flu-like symptoms.”

As of Monday, 30 of JCC’s 1,149 students were in that category. According to Meyer, the district must also report to the Minnesota Department of Health if more than three students per classroom or 5 percent of a school building show signs. Fourteen of Pleasantview’s 140 students were out Monday and three were out at Riverside Elementary.

“This is nothing to get freaked out about,” Meyer said. “The school is tracking this on a daily basis.”

Meyer and other superintendents in Jackson and Cottonwood counties will meet with community health services this week to begin preparation for student and staff inoculation against the flu. According to Meyer, the vaccine should be available by Nov. 9. Letters will be sent home with students for parents to sign permission forms. Only students with signed forms will be vaccinated for the H1N1 virus.

“This is a quick way to get everyone vaccinated,” said Meyer. Health officials recommend two shots for children 10 years and under and one shot for older students and adults.

INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER COMING

JCC, along with Windom and Mt. Lake schools, are sponsoring an inspirational speaker to give two presentations Nov. 10 in Windom. Teachers for the three districts had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Adolph Brown III at their school in-service this year.

Students will travel to Windom during the school day and a community presentation will take place Nov. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Windom Business, Arts and Recreation Center. A bus will leave the upper north parking lot at JCC High School at 5:40 p.m., JCC Middle School at 6 p.m. and Mt. Lake High School at 6:10 p.m. Transportation is free. For more information, contact the high school.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED

An anonymous donation of $1,000 to the JCC Drama Department, a donation from the Pamida Foundation for $100 and a donation from the Sanford Tri for Health of $500 for the pool were all accepted.

LONG-TIME PHY ED TEACHER RETIRES

Lynne Anderson, a physical education teacher at Riverside Elementary School who has worked for the district since 1973, will retire effective Nov. 30.