Woodland Park District takes extra measures to combat the flu

WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO) -- Elementary schools in the Woodland Park school district are taking extra measures to keep kids healthy after a new report by the CDC says 27 kids in the U.S. have died from the flu in the last year. 

Around 10 to 20 percent of kids enrolled at elementary schools in Woodland Park have caught the virus this flu season, as well. District nurse Misty Mcmahan says they’ve been combatting the flu by keeping the lines of communication open with parents. 

“We’ve been really proactive this year about getting notes back to parents about kids staying home when they’re sick”, says McMahan. 

Schools are even giving leniency when it comes to student absences. 

Nurse McMahan says students who stay home when they’re sick will not be penalized for their absences. 

The district is also promoting the flu vaccine to parents - though the vaccine isn’t required for students to attend schools in the Woodland Park district.