Schools preparing for the H1N1 virus

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - Central Indiana schools are bracing for what could be a battle with the H1N1 flu virus.

The Hamilton Southeastern School District is taking some extra precautions regarding cleaning, making sure they clean certain areas every night. Those areas include the handles on the kids' cubbies and the handles on the faucets in the sinks in the kids' classrooms.

The district is hoping it can keep its students as healthy as possible as the school year goes on.

24-Hour News 8 talked with one of Britton Elementary's parents Tuesday afternoon. Jennifer Hall said she's not overly worried about H1N1 affecting her son, or his classmates.

"Sometimes the media, maybe the broader scope of media, can scare people, but I think our school system, because that's where I am and that's what I know about, I think they've done a really good job of educating us," said Hall.

Much of the education has to do with hygiene. Students at Britton Elementary and at other Central Indiana schools are given plenty of time to wash their hands.

"Again, we're also communicating to our student body, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, use good cough and sneeze etiquette. And we're encouraging our parents if kids are sick stay home," said Michael Beresford of Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

There's been a change in the CDC's H1N1 school guidelines. Last spring, the CDC wanted schools to ask students with H1N1 symptoms to stay home for seven days or longer.

"Now you can go back to school after you've been fever free for 24 hours. And that means without medication so you can't have Tylenol or Motrin or some of those meds that might mask the fever. So its 24 hours off medication, fever free you're good to go," said Dr. Judy Monroe the commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health.

24-Hour News 8 checked in with all the township school districts in Marion County, and IPS, Tuesday afternoon.

Those that returned the call said they are not seeing any unusual absenteeism for the beginning of the school year.