NEW GLASGOW – Student absences at schools around the county have been soaring.
Carolyn Pierce, communications manager for the Chignecto Central Regional School Board, said on Tuesday that the board is getting figures from the schools each day when absences due to illness pass 10 per cent.
"This is illness, not necessarily flu-like or H1N1," she said.
As of yesterday, 13 county schools cracked the 10 per cent threshold. There are 22 schools in the county plus the adult high school.
Pierce said the stats are kept for the Department of Health but they are also being reported to the CCRSB since last Wednesday.
"The first couple of days in the Celtic Family (Pictou County schools) there was not anything above 10 per cent," she said. "On Thursday we had the Highland Middle School at 18 per cent absences due to illness, it was the only school in the Celtic Family above 10 per cent."
Numbers at some county schools approached or cracked the 30 per cent mark,  but the board was aware that could happen.
"Public Health has been advising us from the beginning to expect it."
Staff absences are tracked as well, Pierce said, but the board doesn't release that information.
The board is trying to fight the spread of any illnesses through an implemented cleaning policy.
"We're still maintaining cleaning high-touch areas – desktops, door knobs, areas like that – far more frequently.…We've been doing that right since the beginning of the year."
She said the board is encouraging all students, staff and parents to follow the guidelines set down by the health department. The board is also encouraging students to be in class if possible.
She said if parents call to report a student absence for illness, it would be appreciated if they could tell what type of illness it appears to be.