Swine flu major concern for students returning to school

When Boundary County School District reopens Monday, Aug. 31, students can expect teachers and administrators on high alert for the swine flu.

Students also can expect meals with fewer fried and processed foods. In addition, Bonners Ferry High School will be one of 12 high schools in Idaho that will have improved access for courses from high schools and universities across the state.

On the down side, the school district will be operating on a budget that’s $500,000 less than last year. Cut were 4.75 teaching positions, a full-time custodian and a part-time bus mechanic. Positions open due to retirements and resignations were not filed.

Bartling mailed letters to parents, asking to protect children and the community form the swine flu.

“According to the health department, the H1N1 will walk in,” Bartling said.

Also known as H1N1, the flu has killed 477 in the United States and infected people in 168 counties.

Usually who dies are those 5 to 24 years old, said Panhandle Health District nurse Paula Ketner.

By mid-October a vaccine for the swine flu is expected to be available. The school district is considering hosting a clinic so students can be inoculated. It reportedly will involve a serious of two shots over 28 days.

New Idaho nutrition standards that went into effect this month will change the way students eat, said food service director Randy Tremble.

“In a nutshell, it will limit fried food and it’s a hard drive back to whole foods and scratch cooking,” Tremble said.

Things like potato wedges and French fries will be on the menu a maximum of three times a week. Food like processed burritos also will be limited.

“They will see more scratch meals and whole grain items.”

Garry Lough, communication director for Idaho Educational Network, said the state will provide a high-speed Internet that’s six times faster than the current system. It will eventually be made available to the district’s other six buildings.

“It’s a significant increase and you will not have to pay for Internet,” told the school board last week. “It will give high school students access to all colleges and universities in the state. It will give administrators and educators access to things ”

There will be no fees for students to connect to universities, he said.

The governor freed up $3 million in stimulus money for the project, Lough to the board.

“In an effort to distribute the project evenly, we chose two school districts in each region,” he said. “The governor wants to close the technological delta to the Bonners Ferries of the world.”