School Planning and preparation
It is important for schools to begin planning for the
possibility of a pandemic influenza outbreak. Working closely
with a variety of resources within the district when developing
a plan helps to assure staff, families and the community that
the district is following good protocol and meets expected
standards of preparedness. District resources may vary among
districts, but should include building administrators, school
nurses, and staff from human resources, business office,
prevention/intervention, building maintenance, food services,
and safety/risk management when possible.
The local health jurisdiction is another essential partner in
developing an effective plan for prevention, response and
ongoing communication. They also help to monitor and respond to
actual outbreaks of illness and determine if and when a school
should close because of an outbreak. Local health officers have
the authority to require school closure if they believe the
action is necessary to control or eliminate the spread of an
infectious disease. This could be the case in the event of a
pandemic flu; however, the health officer would first consult
with the school superintendent prior to taking this action per
WAC 246-110-020.
School Checklists
Checklists and resources have been developed to help guide
schools in the process of developing a pandemic flu plan. Three of
these include:
Clark County
Schools Checklist
School Pandemic Flu Planning Tool from Tacoma/Pierce County
Health Department This website also contains many other helpful
resources.
King County Public Health Pandemic Flu Resources for schools
School
District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The website
also contains planning checklists, guides and forms for
preschools, colleges, and individuals/families.
Sample School Plans
Caution: Sample plans in this section
are intended only as guides to assist school administrators in
developing a plan specific for their school district.
Highline School District Response Plan -
 Word
 Acrobat
PDF
Bethel School District Pandemic Flu Plan Sample -
Word,
Acrobat
PDF
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Key Contacts and Helpful Websites