Indy schools closed by flu to reopen

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Marion County Health Department announced at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that two Marion County Schools previously closed due to the H1N1 flu virus will reopen on Thursday.

The decision was made after the Centers for Disease and Prevention announced on Tuesday it no longer felt school closures were warranted.

Staff members at Spring Mill Elementary and IPS #60 are expected to report to their buildings on Wednesday at 8 a.m. IPS Superintendent Dr. Eugene White said students must have a signed re-entry form from their parents on Thursday. Health Dept officials will be on hand at both schools to check those forms. If parents have checked that their child has had a fever, cough, or diarrhea, those students will be sent back home.

Both schools were closed after each school had a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus. The closure began Monday, May 4 and both schools were suppose to reopen on the following Monday, May 11. Cleaning crews have spent the past three days sanitizing both buildings.

Meanwhile, the State Health Department announced 12 new confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus bringing the confirmed total to 15. Five of the new confirmed cases are in Marion County and one of those cases is a student at Northview Middle School. Dr. Virginia Caine said the student hasn't been in school all week and she considers the school to be safe. However, those with flu like symptoms are being asked to stay home until those symptoms subside.