My heart goes out to this student's family.

BCPSS is handling the H1N1 virus terribly. Placing hand sanitizer in every classroom isn't enough! Students are being sent home with fevers and flu symptoms, and are allowed to come back the very next day without a doctor's note (or even a visit to the doctor).

Parents, PLEASE take your young ones to the doctor if they are sent home from school or seem to be getting sick, avoid another tragedy.

Hand sanitizer? Not in my school unless I buy it! No hot water to wash hands. Usually no saop in the bathrooms. Sick kids sent back to class or sitting around in the office for hours. Kids sent to school with a fever at 7:45 AM! I know a parent might need to go to work but so do I and I have kids ,too. Make a sick plan! Two deaths in one school system. Two too many! home and school need to do their job;especially if a child already has other health issues. My heart breaks for the families of the two children who have died. We must all take sick kids very seriously.

......
Ed note: The first child who died was only identified by the state as a "Baltimore-area child." We don't know if he or she went to city schools.

@elisabeth: Really? You can't buy hand sanitizer? It's not that much money. My school has most things the students and teachers need. But I still need to buy tissues for my room and hand sanitizer and lots of other miscellaneous things for my students. If you really can't bring yourself to buy a huge $4 bottle of hand sanitizer from Walmart, ask the parents to donate some. They will.

Under No Child Left Behind, even if the child is no longer alive h/she should be given a first-rate education. Anyone who disagrees with this has no respect for kids.

@Anonymous, For Heaven's Sake...read! My response was to the notion that the city was providing these items. I buy cleaning supplies, soap, towels, and much more each and every week. At my school, very little is donated and I buy it all. I keep food, first aid supplies, school supplies etc. Your tone sucks. My point was that if the city claims it has a plan ,it should be in place in each and every school and teachers should not have to buy all these items every week as we do. Two weeks ago I bought a kid glasses. Get off your high horse. Things are very difficult in some schools and I feel the school system should do what they tell the paper and the board they are doing!

Offer extra credit points for children who bring in tissues or hand sanitizer...

Don't fault the parents for sending their kids back to school sick. The other side of that is what I experienced last year. Kept my child home because she was very ill with a stomach flu that she picked up from school. She literally was vomitting and not right for 8 days. Despite my doctors note- I was given a letter telling me her attendance was unacceptable. Despite the fact that she had only missed on day of school prior to that. My niece was also sent to summer school this year for missing school because she had a bowel blockage. She completed the work, had passing grades and was otherwise on par as far as school went but because of the days missed she was forced to do the summer school. The policies put parents in the position to feel like they have to send the child back asap. I understand the purpose behind the policy but when you have documented reasons- there should be flexibility.

My final word on the issue of supplies, sanitation, etc. We all know that teachers spend alot of money on things that should be system expenses. If we worked in the business world, we would buy for ourselves but not 30 other folks or 150 kids depending on if you are teaching older or younger kids. Teachers without homerooms such as art, music, library etc don't get the supplies a student brings to a self contained elementary setting. But my point is that the system should regularly supply the basics. It should be my choice to supplement. As for water, half the time the coolers are empty or the cups are gone. Bathrooms are a disgrace. Of course, we all buy supplies, bribe kids, etc. However, many of my kids have very little. This conversation does not even address the real expenses involved in school supplies and equipement we also buy. I save all receipts for my tax accountant every year so I can document my expenses.Very surprising how much we spend. This expense should not be assumed or taken for granted!!!!!!

Hi,
That is aweful news. To answer your question, yes they are two separate shots. I am going to inquire about my daughter get the swine flu shot.