West Ottawa Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Martin says teachers are working closely with the families of unvaccinated students prevented from attending school because of chickenpox.
There was one confirmed case of chickenpox that resulted in the parents of 18 unvaccinated students at Waukazoo Elementary being notified Oct. 18 that their children could not return to school for 11 or 14 days, according to the Ottawa County Department of Health.
“We certainly don’t like kids being out of school, but our teachers are providing homework and assisting families during this period,” said Martin, who said they are also reviewing what additional instructional support can be provided.
Most students excluded can return to school Nov. 2 and the rest Nov. 7. This is the second time this semester confirmed cases of the highly contagious chickenpox has kept unvaccinated students out of class.
After four confirmed cases of chickenpox, 16 students from Jenison schools’ Kids First – Early Childhood Center (ECC) were kept out of school for 21 days, returning Tuesday, Oct. 16.
Jenison’s ECC houses over 1,200 students, including preschoolers and the district’s K-6 Spanish Immersion program. West Ottawa’s Waukazoo had 457 students last school year.
“We have had scattered reports of chickenpox, but this is not what we would call a significant community outbreak,” said Marcia Mansaray, epidemiologist for the Ottawa County Health Department, noting there have only been two districts affected this school year.
“It is the responsibility of the health department to do whatever we can to control the spread of a disease and minimize the negative impact on the whole community.”