By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
October 31, 2009 - 08:46 a.m. EST

THUMB AREA — Although some cases of H1N1 flu have been found in schools in the Tuscola County Advertiser’s readership area, none have closed because of illnesses . . . yet.

According to Michigan Department of Education’s requirements, 75 percent of a school’s student enrollment needs to be present in order to have a school day.

In checking with area school districts, only scattered cases of H1N1 flu cases were found with most for the regular flu or other illness.

As of Thursday: The Akron-Fairgrove School District had no confirmed cases of H1N1 and no students absent.

In the Caro School District, attendance is at about 85 percent according to Superintendent Neil Beckwith.

“We have about 103 students out, which is about eight percent,” said Cass City School District Superintendent Ron Wilson. “Which isn’t out of line as absences go.”

There are no confirmed cases of H1N1 in the Kingston School District, and attendance is running at about 90 percent, according to Superintendent Joe Murphy.

No H1N1 cases have been reported in Marlette Schools, and absences there have been running about 3.5 -5 percent.

According to Mayville Superintendent Bill Hartzell, there “have been no confirmed cases” that he knows of, and absences are about 14 percent.

“Letters were sent home to parents with H1N1 flu information that came from the health department,” said Hartzell.

Although there have been three confirmed cases at the elementary level and one at the middle school, the Millington school district’s average high school attendance has been 94 percent.

“We had one confirmed case in the middle school, and one in the high school, but the one at the high school is back already,” said Reese Schools’ Superintendent Storm Lairson, noting there are 110 absences in preschool - 12.

In the Owen-Gage School District, no positive H1N1 cases have been reported, and there were 18 absences.

“We have a couple of reported cases of H1N1, but without a confirmation from the health department,” said Unionville-Sebewaing Area School District Superintendent Doctor John “Kip” Walker.

In the USA School District, there are 41 elementary students absent, 19 in the middle school and 29 in the high school.

Information from Vassar Schools wasn’t available.