The Gazette-Enterprise

SEGUIN — The not-so-long wait is over for area faculty and students.

Today marked the return of children and teachers to all Seguin, Navarro, and Marion ISD campuses — as well as St. James Catholic School and Lifegate Christian School — after it was announced April 30 that all schools would be closed until May 11 due to the swine flu scare.

It was decided late Tuesday night that today would be the new date to reopen all classrooms, which have been without students and teachers for the better part of a week. During that time, however, Seguin ISD Chief Operating Officer Rene Ramos said that the schools weren’t totally empty, as district maintenance workers were busy disinfecting each campus from floor to ceiling — a process that began as soon as the North American flu appeared in the region.

“Before we closed last week, we were doing this,” Ramos said. “When we were still in school, we didn’t want to be spreading any H1N1 virus, so we had already been wiping down with the anti-bacterial disinfectant, especially commonly touched things — hand rails, things in the cafeteria, doors, desks, things like that. But since the kids were out, we were able to do a deep cleaning. We actually changed out all the air filters in our AC units so we have brand new filters on our fans and all of our HVACs.

“We were able to focus and cover everything on the campus.”

Ramos said that the transportation angle had been covered as well, as each school bus was also given a thorough cleaning.

“We had wiped-down buses every morning,” he said. “But once again, since we weren’t doing our routes, we disinfected every bus top to bottom with anti-bacterial solution.”

Guadalupe County Emergency Management Coordinator Dan Kinsey reported Wednesday there were now 13 confirmed cases of swine flu in this county and another 21 that were considered highly probable.

Guadalupe County Medical Authority, Dr. Sandra Guerra, told local authorities in a Wednesday afternoon conference call that the public health emphasis would now shift to preparing for a possible second wave of the virus — next flu season.

“We know that pandemics come in waves, and that would be just in time for next flu season,” she said.

Guerra recommended that anyone showing flu symptoms stay home for seven days and an additional 24 hours after the symptoms disappear. A single family member should be chosen as a caregiver for the ill person, and that person should stay home as well, she said.

Kinsey said he would be sending out a letter to the ministerial alliance and to others telling them that large gatherings were now considered OK by public health authorities — but that precautions remain in order.

“The flu is still an issue, but for the most part, it’s not going to have a high morbidity rate,” Kinsey said. “Anyone with previously existing medical conditions or a weak or compromised immune system really needs to be careful and really needs to seek medical advice in case of flu symptoms.”

And in public, he said, cover coughs — preferably by coughing into the crook of an elbow — and don’t engage in close contact activities such as hugging, hand-holding or hand shaking.

On Wednesday afternoon, area teachers got the chance to return to their classrooms if they so desired, readying their spaces for the students’ return.

Patlan Elementary Principal Merry White was present at her campus throughout the day, but reported that a lot teachers already had their plans in order, having researched some ideas during the break to be utilized over the final few weeks of classes. Another positive for White was that, unlike Comal and New Braunfels ISDs, her district only missed one day of TAKS testing.

“Any days that you skip in learning are a missed opportunity,” White said. “So we’re always more excited about having more kids at school than them not being at school, and I would say that not only as a principal, but as a teacher.”

Ron Maloney contributed to this story.

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