Special Ed. State students returning May 11 due to swine flu threat

Written by: the Site Administrator on May 1, 2009 at 11:47 am

Chasity Monschein
Editor-in-Chief

The Texas State Department of Health and Retardation students will not be attending LHS until May 11 because of the swine flu threat.
“The State School called yesterday at noon and wanted us to send their 25 students back,” Sp. Ed. Principal Gladys Swanson said.  “They are aware LHS does not have any cases of the swine flu but because it is recommended to not travel and some of their students have weak immune systems they wanted to take extra precautions.”
Although the students will be gone for a lengthy period of time, it will not effect their studies.
“They have a different curriculum than other students so their abstinences will not effect them the same way,” Swanson.  “When they come back, things will be just like normal.”
But for the Special Ed. students that are still attending LHS, they have a few changes in their schedule.
“They usually volunteer at nursing homes and hospitals but because of the swine flu threat they will be going to churches or other more secluded places,” Swanson said.  “In a worst case scenario, we do not want to be responsible of bringing the swine flue to LHS.”
Students are also taking more precautions so they do not run the risk of getting swine flu.
“We have a nurse here who has advised us with the same advice everyone else is getting and we are listening,” Swanson said.  “We are wiping the door knobs with sanitary wipes, making sure students are using hand sanitizer, and anything else we can do.”
Also have to cope with the change are the teachers in the Special Ed. Hall.
“It is different for them, but having fewer students is a nice break just like it would be for any teacher,” Swanson said.  “We will manage the change somehow.”