The Richmond Register

Local News

October 20, 2009

Berea schools closed because of illness

County schools remain open

Illness has shut down Berea Independent Schools.

At all three schools — Berea Community Elementary School, Berea Community Middle School and Berea Community High School — students were sent home Monday and classes were canceled for the remainder of the week.

“It was determined that after 12 percent of our population were absent on Friday and 19 percent of our student population absent (Monday) we should close for the remainder of the week,” said Donna Lovell, director of pupil personnel for Berea Community School.

There also was an increase in the number of staff members who were absent because of illness, Lovell said.

A notice on the district Web site states, “Berea Independent Schools will be closed Tuesday October 20th through Friday October 23rd due to illness. Students will return to school on Monday October 26th.”

“Our hope is that the cancellation of school will allow for the students and staff who are ill to recover and perhaps prevent additional students and staff from becoming ill,” Lovell said.

The closure of Berea Independent Schools sparked a flood of calls to Madison County Schools.

“We are getting a lot of phone calls at the office, just people inquiring if we are closing,” said Erin Stewart, community education director for Madison County Schools. “We are just letting people know that at this time we don’t have any plans of closing unless our numbers drop and we don’t foresee that at this time.”

Although still open, Madison County Schools are keeping an eye on the attendance levels.

“Anything below 90 percent, we start taking a look at our options,” Stewart said. “We are not at that level right now. (Monday), I believe we are at a little above 91 percent.”

Also on Monday, the Madison County Health Department issued a press release detailing a plan for schools to receive H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations.

The Madison County Health Department, along with Madison County Schools and Berea Independent Schools, met on Friday and decided to begin sending home packets this week with information on how students can get a flu shot at school beginning the first week of November.

Children with special health care needs will be given priority in receiving the vaccine, the press release said.

All students will need parental permission to be vaccinated.

Students also can receive the vaccine at Saturday clinics. Those clinic dates will be announced as soon as the health department knows more about the vaccine supply.

Tim Mandell can be reached at tmandell@richmondregister.com or 623-1669 ext. 6696.

Text Only
Local News
  • BREAKING NEWS: Grand jury indicts men in double-murder

    Two men accused of killing a Richmond couple for money and then hiding their bodies in graves along Tates Creek Road were indicted Wednesday on capital charges by a Madison grand jury.
    Matthew Denholm, 27, and Daniel Keene, 26, were both indicted on two counts each of murder, kidnapping and abuse of a corpse charges. They also were each indicted on tampering with physical evidence and first-degree burglary charges.

    May 23, 2012

  • 5-23 Police Memorial7.jpg Kentucky fallen officers honored at annual ceremony

    The best part about Alexandria Police Department Officer James Sticklen’s job was being able to work with kids almost every day.
    He was the school resource officer Campbell County Middle School.
    “He always used to say there are no bad kids, they just make bad decisions,” said his wife, Laurie.

    May 23, 2012 1 Photo

  • Shell beats Mick by 54 votes


    Republican Jonathan Shell and Democrat Bradley “Bud” Montgomery will face off in November for the 36th District state representative seat.
    Shell received 810 votes in Madison County, beating Republican opponent Nathan Mick by only 54 votes.

    May 23, 2012

  • Woman attacked on Berea College walking track

    A woman on the Berea College walking track suffered minor injuries Saturday when an unknown man struck her in the face twice, according to Berea Police Public Information Officer Jake Reed.

    May 23, 2012

  • Obama beats ‘uncommitted’ only by 85 votes in Madison County

    President Barack Obama won the votes of slightly more than half of Madison County’s Democratic voters Tuesday in the Kentucky primary to select delegates to his party’s nominating convention.

    May 23, 2012

  • Stolen saxophone recovered, two people arrested in connection with theft

    Police recovered a saxophone reported stolen earlier this month and arrested two people in connection with its theft.

    May 23, 2012

  • Election results

    Madison Circuit Court Clerk Darlene Snyder

    May 23, 2012

  • Newcomer Morgan leads city commission voting


    Laura Durham Morgan led the ballot of 14 candidates Tuesday in the non-partisan primary to select eight finalists in the Richmond City Commission race.

    May 23, 2012

  • 5-23 Darlene Snyder wins2.jpg Snyder wins clerk’s race

    Darlene Snyder won the Madison circuit court clerk’s race by nearly 400 votes Tuesday, an outcome she attributes to her campaign volunteers.
    “It feels like our hard work has paid off,” Snyder said Tuesday night outside the home of A.B. Grant, the site of her victory party. Nearly four dozen supporters were hugging, cheering and high-fiving both outside and inside the home after the results came in.

    May 23, 2012 2 Photos

  • 5-22-SchoolBusDriver1.jpg Berry kept wheels going round and round for 45 years

    Madison County Schools had 29 employees retire this year, some after careers spanning several decades.
    While several retirees have more than 30 years of service, only bus driver Louda Berry can boast a tenure of 45 years.

    May 21, 2012 2 Photos

Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
AP Video
Secret Service Boss: 'I Apologize' Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come 8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff Sheriff: DNA Links Suspect to Missing CA Teen US Airways: Diverted Flight Has 'Landed Safely' Revived Focus on Regulation After JPMorgan Loss
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Poll

A recent health ranking listed Madison County as the 20th healthiest county in the state. It measured factors such as exercise, access to health care and smoking. Do you smoke cigarettes?

Yes
No
I used to, but I quit.
     View Results