Staff Writer

Kennebunk Elementary School remained closed earlier this week following the discovery of a student considered to have a “probable case” of swine flu, and with one confirmed case in York County, Maine School Administrative District 71 Superintendent Patrick Manuel said Monday it is expected to take a few more days before the federal Center for Disease Control confirms the case. 

The “suspicious case” announced by Gov. John Baldacci April 29 led to the closure of the elementary school for seven calendar days and of press time was expected to reopen Thursday, Manuel said. 

“Hopefully this is behind us after this,” Manuel said. 

A second “suspicious case” was reportedly a child attending the Crayon Academy in Arundel, owned by Danielle MacDonald. The daycare center closed Thursday and Friday of last week, but was allowed to reopen after the child tested negative for the swine flu. 

MacDonald said she called the parents of all 50 children who attend her daycare, informing them about the closure, and on Monday said the majority of children were back. MacDonald said information provided by doctors and state officials resulted in parents being “not too concerned.” She said Crayon Academy is working to refund parents for the two days of being closed and pay 11 staff members as well.

“I don’t mind taking the hit because parents had to stay home. It wasn’t fair. That was my decision,” MacDonald said. 

At a press conference April 30, Manuel said district officials worked closely with the governor’s office, Maine Center for Disease Control and Maine Department of Education in order to make decisions for the health and safety of students. 

“We’re following the guidance and advice of the CDC. People may disagree with it, but we will continue to follow their guidance,” Manuel said. 

One of the guidelines included not releasing the names of the students being tested for swine flu.

Residents, parents and business owners gathered in Kennebunk Town Hall before the press conference, waiting for more information about the suspicious cases and closure of the school. Town Manager Barry Tibbetts, Manuel, Assistant Superintendent Wayne Dorr, Southern Maine Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Tom Courtney, school physician Dr. Don Burgess and the district’s Emergency Operations Director David Creech were all in attendance. 

“Closing is to prevent any further spread. It’s highly infectious and highly contagious,” Burgess said, adding he anticipated seeing more cases in his office.

As of Tuesday morning, there was one confirmed case in York County and six probable cases – two adults in Kennebec County, three adults and one youth in York County, and one youth in Penobscot County – according to the Maine CDC and cases continue to be investigated.

Little League activities, including their attendance in the May Day parade last Saturday, were also suspended because there was crossover of students in the elementary school, Burgess said. He added that because buses weren’t shared with students in other schools and there have been no active symptoms with older children, there was no reason to close other Kennebunk schools. 

Town Clerk Joanna Moran, whose son attends the elementary school, questioned whether or not it was safe to send him to Toddle Inn Daycare.

“One issue is keeping children from getting infected, but there is no need with no symptoms to keep him home,” Courtney said. 

Lori Lessard, a parent of an elementary school student and a day care provider for four children, said she’s “not concerned,” but “frustrated” by the situation.

“They’re telling us it’s a second grader and a student at Crayon Academy, but there’s no saying who it is. It’s unfair to people,” Lessard said. 

Iris Sherman was more surprised about the decision to cancel Little League practices and games for seven days as well. 

“I have mixed feelings as how crazy you want to get. It’s really not different than the regular flu,” Sherman said. 

Lessard said she’s constantly reminding her children to wash their hands, and told them closing school “was just to be safe.”

 As other schools in the district remained open, activities also continued as planned said Manuel. 

Following last Thursday’s press conference, Assistant Principal Jean Beaulieu said secretaries spent most of the morning fielding questions from parents. 

“People right now are not putting it into perspective, they’re just reacting,” Beaulieu said Thursday afternoon. 

Many students stayed home Thursday, Friday or Monday at other district schools. At Consolidated School in Kennebunkport, 57 students – 25 percent of enrollment – were absent Thursday, 55 students were out on Friday and 18 students on  Monday. The Sea Road School in Kennebunk had 30 percent of students out Thursday, more than 36 percent out Friday and 12 percent absent Monday. Middle School of the Kennebunks saw 109 students absent and nine dismissed early on Thursday, 133 students out Friday and 41 students absent Monday. At Kennebunk High School, approximately 175 students were absent, 141 out on Friday and 100 students were out Monday.

Staff writer Emma Bouthillette can be reached at 282-4337 ext. 237.