Dr. Sleven L Paine, Slate Superintendent ofSchools
1900 KanllNlha Boulevard. East, Building 6
Charleston, WV 15305-0330
Phone: 301-558-1681
Fax: 304-558-Q(U8
http://wvde.stale.".v.us
MEMORANDUM
TO: County Superintendents
School Principals
FROM: Steven l. Paine
State Superintendent of Schools
DATE: September 8, 2009
RE: Procedures for Reporting School Dismissals/Closings due to Influenza
W
While staff and students in your schools are doing everything possible to prevent the spread of influenza and other
communicable diseases, we are continuing to provide necessary guidance and tools to help you manage disease
outbreaks should they occur in your schools. The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), in collaboration
with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR), will continue to provide periodic
conference calls related to influenza preparedness throughout the school year as needed .
At this time, I would like to draw particular attention to new directives related to reporting school dismissals/closings
due to Influenza outbreaks . The WVDE will act as the central collection point of school closing information for West
Virginia. We will collect school closing information from each county school system via the existing WVDE Webpage
SCHOOL CLOSING APPLICATION. Once school dismissals/closings are reported on the WVDE Web page, WVDE staff
will forward required information to the Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Education and WVDHHR.
In order to provide the required federal reporting information, all counties/schools must report school
dismissals/closings according to the following instructions:
1. Login to your School Closings Administration web site at: https://wvde.state.wv.us/closings/admin/
2. If you don't have or don't remember your username and password please send an email to fibanez@access .k12 .wv .us 3. Follow normal posting procedures through all sections up to the ANNOUNCEMENTS section of the existing
SCHOOL CLOSING APPLICATION
4. Include the following additional information in the ANNOUNCEMENTS section :
a. Name of School
b. School Zip Code (list all school zip codes for county-wide dismissal)
c. Reason for Closing (must include the word "flu")
d. Projected Date for Re-opening School
Note :
• For county-wide dismissals, provide information requested in #4 for each school closed within the county.
• For single school dismissals, provide the information requested in #4 for individual school.
• For multiple school dismissals within a county (but not cou nty-wide dismissail, provide information
requested in #4 for each school affected by the dismissal.
SP/MBP
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
1009-1010
Priscilla M. Had ..., PrC5idenl; JeDDY N. PIIillips. Vice President; Robert W. DuDlery, Secretary
.
Delores W. Cook. Member; Ba rba ... N. Fish, Member; BUr8Ia Halfield , Member; Lowtll E, Johnsoa, Member; L Wade linle r Jr., Member. Gayle C. Mucbin. Member
Brian E. NoIaad , Ex Officio; James L. Skidmore, Ex Officio; Siena L Paine, E~ Officio