TRAVERSE CITY -- Erica Joneson is a self-employed single mother who works at home. Her son, Cole, typically spends his week days at Traverse City's Montessori program.
But a suspected swine flu outbreak and widespread school closings mean she and Cole will spend plenty of time at home together this week.
"Working at home with a 3-year-old is like trying to read a book at a rock concert," Joneson said. "Looks like I won't be getting as much work done this week."
Administrators in two Grand Traverse County public school systems sent well over 10,000 students home for the week after classes Monday, a reaction to absence and illness that soared over the weekend.
Traverse City and Kingsley districts will be closed through Nov. 3 to allow students time to recuperate. Another area school planned to close today and Wednesday, while other districts watched absences steadily climb.
Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District special education programs also will be canceled. Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools were to be open today, though that could change this week, if the virus continues its march.
"We are on the upswing of this epidemic in this community and we have some difficult days ahead of us still," said Dr. Michael Collins, medical director for Grand Traverse and Benzie-Leelanau Health Departments.
Nearly 1,000 of roughly 9,860 Traverse City Area Public Schools students were absent Monday, spokeswoman Alison Arnold said. In Kingsley, 310 of the 1,505 enrolled on a Sept. 30 count day were gone, Superintendent Lynn Gullekson said.
West Middle School and Blair Elementary closed late last week to try to stem the flu's spread.
Blair fourth-grader Steven Weller was among those who fell ill last week with fever and aches. His mother supported the school closure.
"That's the best way to hopefully not spread it to the whole entire school," said Emily Weller, president of the Blair parent-teacher organization. "Especially with the weather being what it is, the children are being closed inside the school all day."
Westwoods Elementary, Central Grade School and West Senior High each had more than 20 percent of students gone, and nine of 13 elementary schools are approaching that mark, Arnold said.
Central High School "is right at the cusp," she added.
"All of these schools were continuing to send kids home as we were looking at the numbers," Arnold said. "Every 10 or 15 minutes, we were getting calls."
Staff reported 112 students absent from Kingsley Elementary, 128 from the middle school and 70 from the high school.
"We had a lot of staff that were getting ill as well," Gullekson said. "With that combination, we just figured there wasn't a lot of quality instruction going on."
'I don't know what I'm going to do'
Rebecca McGarry-Costello, 34, has four children at the Montessori program at Glenn Loomis Elementary. She works there as a toddler assistant, so she'll be off until school resumes next week.
Other working parents aren't so lucky, and McGarry-Costello decided to help out by offering to baby-sit.
"I'm going home with extra kids that aren't mine," she said. "I have two right now, but I'm sure that will change."
April Pizzo's three children are at Blair Elementary and West Middle. She works full time as a nurses' assistant at Munson Medical Center, and needs to find something to do with her kids.
She may try to take some time off work, and it's possible her sister might be able to watch her children for a while. Her husband installs insulation, and he recently landed a job after being laid off for a year.
"It's not really an option for him to take time off," she said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."
Paul and Rebecca Mead's two children already missed three school days because of flu-like symptoms. The couple works full time, and will try to get creative with their scheduling so they can watch the kids.
Taking time off is a possibility, though the closure's duration could be problematic.
"One day here, a half-day there is one thing. A whole week is another story," Paul said.
Options may be limited
Finding a place for their children may be difficult for some working parents.
Ruth Hovland, director of Central Day Care Center, said the Traverse City facility will remain open and accept siblings of previously enrolled kids. But the center doesn't have room for others, she said.
Hovland said thus far, children who attend the center have stayed "pretty healthy."
"We disinfect a heck of a lot more than the school system does, so I think that's why we have a lower rate of sick kids," she said.
Noah's Ark Day Care in Traverse City will stay open to take care of children who already are signed up, said Sherry Schettek. Parents who need care have called, but the day care decided not to take children who are staying home because of TCAPS school closures, she said.
Parents have been understanding, but they "obviously need help" finding care for their children while they work, she said.
The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA initially didn't plan to take children displaced from school for fear they could be flu "carriers," said child care director Molly Brown.
YMCA quickly changed course and decided to allow healthy school-age children between kindergarten and about 12 years old to attend its "School's Out" program. The program runs on snow days, spring break and days when school is not in session.
Brown said the program will be "really strict" about its illness policy. If the child is sick or has "a family member who has any sort of the flu," they cannot attend, she said.
Children must be registered, which requires health records and other information. The program will take place at the main YMCA location on Racquet Club Drive in Traverse City.
The Traverse Area District Library on Woodmere Avenue canceled all children's programs through Saturday. Library staffers have called in sick with the flu, assistant director Barbara Nowinski said, and officials thought it best to close as a precaution.
"If schools are closed, we're not (having) children come to the library if the bug is going around," she said.
Two of the area's largest employers, Munson Healthcare and the Grand Traverse Resort, said they have no idea how TCAPS' closing will impact their employees with small children, but they'll adjust as needed.
"We understand for parents it's a priority to be with their children and we will find ways to work around it," said resort spokesman J. Mike DeAgostino.
Flu closes in elsewhere
The flu outbreak appears to be spreading well beyond Grand Traverse County, and regional educators are either closing their doors or closely eyeing the situation.
Officials in Benzie County decided to close Betsie Valley Elementary School today and Wednesday after more than 50 percent of its students were absent with flu-related symptoms.
More than 80 children were absent by 2 p.m. Monday, according to a memo sent by Benzie County Central Schools Superintendent Dave Micinski.
About 270 students were absent throughout the district, and officials will monitor students to see if more closures are needed, Micinski said.
In Leelanau County, Suttons Bay Public Schools officials reported 108 students out with flu-related symptoms Monday, though schools remain open -- for now.
"If we get to a certain point, then we'll have to close school," said Marie Rothgarber, Suttons Bay administrative assistant. "This would be the highest number so far this year."
Proper hygiene is the mantra in Glen Lake Community Schools.
"I know my hands are extremely dry because I've been washing them 10 times a day," said Glen Lake Superintendent Joan Groening. "We're obviously seeing a higher number of absences compared to last year, but we're nowhere near the number to close school."
The flu bug has yet to reach Kalkaska Public Schools, said Superintendent Lee Sandy.
"It's bound to make its way here sooner or later," he said, adding school officials continue to monitor absences each day.
Mixed reaction
Parents, children and teachers offered a variety of views on TCAPS' decision to close for a week.
"I'm just glad my kids are healthy. They haven't come down with anything and we're thankful for that," said Thomas Bush, of Lake Ann, who picked up his child from Central Grade School in Traverse City shortly after learning of the closings.
Cheryl Naperala, of Traverse City, waited inside the school for her two grandchildren.
"I don't have any problem with it. I understand there is a shortage of the vaccine, so if this slows it down, that's OK," Naperala said.
Kate Parvel, of Traverse City, thinks the district likely made a good decision, but said it doesn't come without potential drawbacks.
"My biggest concern is we'll have to have so many more days in June," Parvel said. "It's probably wise to take some time and get everything cleaned up. It absolutely can't hurt. I think it's effective to not have these kids mingling."
But Libby McKay, a nurse from Traverse City, disagreed.
"I feel like this virus will be in our schools the entire year," McKay said. "It's frustrating. It's paranoia that I don't completely agree with. I'm not sure this will be a solution to the pandemic problem."
Central fourth-grade teacher Victoria Derks doesn't know what the closure will mean for an extended school year or for missed state testing, but it had become clear flu was taking its toll on students.
"Today, one-third of my class was gone," Derks said.
Teachers, too, are to stay away from classes and Derks plans to use the time to stay in and clean house.
Katie Rundio, 10, is a student in Derks' class. She hopes her fellow students who are sick feel better soon.
"It kind of pays off, but we'll miss the Halloween party," she said.
Administrators are unsure how the days will be made up, but it's likely more time will be added to the calendar in June, TCAPS' Arnold said. This week will use up available time reserved for snow days.
The state can deduct a district's per-student funding if fewer than 75 percent of students attend classes on a given day.
Teachers, like students, will be off in both districts. School buildings will be cleaned.
Twelve ISD special education programs will close; half are located in TCAPS buildings, Superintendent Mike Hill said.
Twelve of 40 students at a Traverse Heights program were absent Monday, and 22 of 103 students were absent from an adult work center, Hill said.
The Traverse Bay Area Career-Tech Center will remain open today, since fewer students were absent Monday than Friday, he said.
The decision will be evaluated, since students from Traverse City and Kingsley schools will not attend.
The health department recommends schools close for at least four days when their absentee rate hits 20 percent, said the health departments' Collins.
But, he acknowledged, there's no guarantee it will work. Its effectiveness will depend largely on what students do during their break.
"We've never had anything quite like this, but I think it will work," Collins said. "If students take this as an opportunity to party and get together in large crowds, it won't help."
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- Swine Flu: What kids should know (PDF)
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- Flu wreaks havoc on sports schedules
- Swine flu outbreak closes school
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- Editorial: Answers on swine flu
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