Schools' experience - case studies
These case studies are from the Wellington region. Community transmission of the virus is most advanced in this region (25 June 2009).
The Ministry of Health estimates (25 June 2009) is that nearly half of the population could be infected through the pandemic, resulting in about a third of the population becoming symptomatic over time. They anticipate that absenteeism due to sickness will be spread over several months but should not exceed a total of 35% across that period. Workplaces should have plans for above average staff absenteeism.
Konini Primary School
The week of 22 June saw attendance start with 20% away and ended with 32% absent on the Friday. Fortunately only two teachers were absent and the school was able to get relievers through a relieving service. Some general teacher aides were absent but not those who look after high educational needs students.
The principal, Neil Sainsbury, has been in regular communication with his parent community and has included the Education and Health websites in his newsletter. He has promoted the messages of hand washing, using tissues and children staying home if they are unwell. The parents have been very responsive, although each day several children have been sent home as they came to the office complaining of feeling unwell. It is very apparent that the flu seems to go through families and some classes have much higher rates of absence than others.
The principal has found that the Ministry emails and other communications have been most useful.
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Pukeatua Primary School
Pukeatua School in Wainuiomata had a third of their roll away (25 June 2009). This week saw an escalation in the number of children absent with flu-like symptoms.
Most of the teacher absences were covered by relievers. However, they had to double up some classes resulting in maximum class sizes of 30. This was especially so in Māori immersion classes where it was possible to get relievers. The other teachers responded well to this and willingly took extra children into their classes given the circumstances.
The principal, Jennifer Langley, has been sending home weekly newsletters to parents with information about hand washing, using tissues, staying home when unwell and general health messages. The community has responded very well to this. The daily notices to each class also reiterate the same messages.
Pukeatua School is on the ‘fruit in school programme’. This has enabled them to provide the children with extra vitamin C.
The school has been using the Ministry's website to inform their newsletters and actions.
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St Bernards College, Lower Hutt
St Bernards was experiencing heavy absences. One day they had 200 students (40%) and 10 staff (25%) away. St Bernards are using their relief fund. They will also use banking of staffing if necessary, realising that this may have implications for planned activity later in the year. St Bernard’s is contemplating amalgamating classes.
Wainuiomata High School
Wainuiomata had 28% of their roll and 18% of staff absent (21 June 2009). They managed the situation well as they had a number of Year 10s out on work experience and they used the staff freed up by this to relieve. They did not go to work places to check on their students as originally planned.
Wainuiomata High School is contemplating sending year 13s home with work just as they would ask staff to work from home in some circumstances. Wainuiomata indicate that if they have to send year groups home they will rotate the two senior levels only.
Both these colleges are concerned about the long-term impacts of unusual staff absence levels, through sickness, on their relief teacher budgets.