Flu season could put school attendance awards on hold

By: Jasmine Huda

KSDK -- Attendance award may have to take a back seat to the flu season. Some school districts say perfect attendance recognition may keep some kids from staying home when they're sick.

The Jefferson County R-VII School District is shut down until next week, after more than 20% of its student body was out with the flu Monday.

Superintendent Tom Guenzler said district leaders will meet today to discuss whether it would make sense to hold off on perfect attendance awards, acknowledging that the recognition is important to some students.

"Sometimes you hear about those that go 12, 14 years, every day of school, and they haven't been absent a day. Under these circumstances, there are probably more important things to consider than perfect attendance," he said.

A little more than 700 students attend Jefferson County R-VII, which includes K-9th grade.

The Mehlville School District is not experiencing lower-than-normal attendance numbers, Deputy Superintendent Eric Knost said. The district has about 11,000 students. Mehlville, like Jefferson County R-VII, has taught students good hygiene habits and has been vigilant about keeping school buildings clean.

Knost said some students may feel pressured to attend class even when they're not feeling well.

"There are a lot of kids that are very conscientious about their attendance," he said. "But I consider that similar to other flu seasons. There are going to be reasons that kids have to stay home from school. And we have to let the parents have to make that decision. "

That's the message Guenzler wants to send to other districts who have not yet experienced a flu outbreak. He said parents need to bed told to keep kids at home when they experience flu-like symptoms, like sore throats, fever, and body aches.

Students at Jefferson County R-VII return to class next Tuesday, October 20.