By Anthony Bottan and Andrew Hackmack
The meeting was prompted by the confirmation of more than 15 cases of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA, in the county.
Dr. Anthony Singe, interim superintendent of District 30, attended the meeting, along with Director of Facilities Gregory Abatte and Nurse Coordinator Susan Lombardo. Singe said that the district already had in place many of the health department's recommendations.
In a letter to parents dated Oct. 22, Singe outlined some of the precautions the district is taking, including increasing awareness among the faculty, staff and students of the importance of good hygiene, increasing custodial cleaning districtwide and encouraging the use of antibacterial hand cleaner and hand wipes.
"We've been approaching this from a prevention standpoint," Singe said, adding that efforts to clean the schools have been doubled. Areas at high risk for germs, including bathrooms, gymnasiums and water fountains, are now being cleaned more often. Additionally, over the course of three Saturdays, each school building will receive an extra cleaning in high-risk areas.
Bill Heidenreich, assistant superintendent of personnel and administration in the Central High School District, said that officials are working on enlarging the tip sheet distributed by the Nassau County Department of Health and hanging them in locker rooms and bathrooms to remind students to practice proper hygiene. Heidenreich said the forum reassured him that the county is working together to combat MRSA. "It was comforting to know we are not alone in this," he said.
District 24 Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale said he was also comforted to know that the district handled the MRSA scare in accordance with county health guidelines. "It was good to know kids with MRSA can come to school," Fale said. "What we have been doing is what we should be doing, which is maintaining proper hygiene."
District 13 Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lison said that custodians are checking bathrooms every 90 minutes to make sure there is a proper supply of soap and paper towels. In the cafeterias, she said, hand cleaners have been in place for two years.
"Not having sports teams makes it a little easier for us," Lison said, referring to the extra precautions athletic squads must now take in light of the reports of MRSA.
Singe said that students in District 30 would be taking part in a poster contest about hygiene. The posters will hang in the classrooms as a constant reminder for children to practice good personal hygiene. The district has also ordered liquid hand sanitizers for all the classrooms, and they should be installed shortly. "When it comes to health and safety," Singe said, "we take whatever measures are necessary."
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