As a result of the information recently released by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) on the H1N1 flu (swine flu), the Ferndale Area School District is taking every precaution to ensure your child is in a clean safe environment while in school. We need your cooperation during this period of heightened alert to minimize the spread of germs.

If your child develops a fever, cough and runny nose, body aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea please keep your child at home and seek medical attention with your primary care doctor. We also need you to contact the school to let us know as we are the link with the Pa. Dept. of Health.

You can also help in decreasing the spread of germs by reviewing these recommendations from the CDC with your child.

• Cover your mouth and nose with either your elbow, or into a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw away the tissue after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Use alcohol –based hand sanitizers (located in all the classrooms and the cafeteria).
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you keep your child home from school and you should also stay away from work, or public places and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs are also spread this way.

Thank you for your cooperation with this matter and feel free to contact our school nurse at 288-5757 (Jr/Sr High) or 535-6724 (Elementary).

Judy Virgin                                     Carole M. Kakabar

School Nurse                                  Superintendent

This letter is primarily directed to the greater Ferndale Area School District community. There have been rampant rumors being spread by uninformed and perhaps malicious individuals who suggest that the Ferndale Area School District is being consolidated with other school districts either as a whole entity or piece meal. There is absolutely no legitimacy to these rumors. There have been no discussions with other school districts nor has there been any communication from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to suggest consolidation should be pursued by Ferndale Area School District. Governor Rendell has requested a state commission to study the feasibility of reducing the number of Pennsylvania school districts from 500 to 100; but to the best of our knowledge, no local school district has received any information from the Governor’s Office as to how his suggestion might affect the alignment of school districts in the Greater Johnstown area. The Ferndale Area School District is currently financially sound and is one of very few area school districts that is projected to maintain and perhaps to grow slightly in enrollment through 2018. In short, as W.C. Field’s once said: “(The) rumors of … (the) demise (of Ferndale Area School District) are greatly exaggerated!”.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the entire FASD Board of Education

Carole M. Kakabar                     Ridley Banks
Superintendent                            Board President