Procedure up for discussion after meningitis case at high school
By B.C. Manion
The Pasco County school district is considering whether it should use its automated telephone system to alert parents when a public health issue arises in a school.
District spokeswoman Summer Romagnoli said last week that she would be bringing that idea to Superintendent Heather Fiorentino for the superintendent’s consideration.
The issue of prompt parental notification surfaced after a recent case of bacterial meningitis at Zephyrhills High. While a Zephyrhills student died last week, neither the school nor the health department would confirm the link.
The school district was notified of the confirmed case of meningitis late at night on Feb. 15, Romagnoli said.
The district followed its protocol and alerted the health department, which sent personnel to the school the following morning, Romagnoli said.
The district’s role is to facilitate the health department’s investigation, Romagnoli said.
In a letter from health department officials sent home to parents on Feb. 16, officials informed parents that they were working with school officials “to identify and notify any close contacts where treatment may be recommended.”
The letter went on to say: “The bacteria are not spread by casual contact or simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been (such as by sitting near a person in a classroom, on the bus, or in the cafeteria.)”
Deanna Krautner, a spokeswoman for the county health department, said “We worked with the school district to put the letter together and they gave it to the students to bring home.”
Federal privacy laws about health information and student privacy information forbid the district from providing identifiable information about the student who died, or others who may have been exposed to the disease, Romagnoli said.
Steve Van Gorden, principal at Zephyrhills High, said he understands why parents were so concerned and frustrated. “They just wanted to know what was going on,” he said.
But the district must abide by the law, and in public health issues “the health department dictates the response,” he said.
“Hopefully this is a one and only occurrence,” Van Gorden added.
Romagnoli said health department officials told school district officials that there was no reason to keep anyone out of school because the disease is not easily transmitted.
But after talking to an upset parent who questioned why the district didn’t use its automated telephone system to inform parents, Romagnoli said she would bring that issue to the superintendent’s attention.
When asked whether that would be a good response, Van Gorden said, “It think it’s a very touchy situation,” adding he would follow whatever district officials decide.
Despite concerns raised by parents, Romagnoli said the Zephyrhills High administration followed district protocol.
“They did what they are supposed to do,” Romagnoli said.
— Staff writer Kyle LoJacono contributed to this story.
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