Parents Call For More Flu-Related Closures In Queens
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Parents at one Queens school held a protest Wednesday as they called on city and education officials to further address the high number of flu-related absences being reported throughout the borough. NY1's Roger Clark filed the following report.Parents marched outside P.S. 121 in South Ozone Park Wednesday, demanding the school be closed for the sake of the health of their children.
See NY1's full list of the city's flu-related closings.
"I think since last week they should be shut down and just sanitize the school for everyone's safety, you know, safety comes first," said one parent.
Teachers say more than 200 of the 900 students at the school have either absent or sent home from the South Ozone Park School this week. They also say eight teachers have called out sick.
Parents say their children are suffering from flu-like symptoms and don't feel they are getting enough information from the city or the school.
"My daughter came to school on Monday, she came to school very healthy, and when she came home she was crying for her throat and her head, and then like an hour later she had a high fever," said one parent.
"We've been calling, they won't answer the phone, they are switching us to different places, we are not getting any help," said another parent.
At Junior High School 189 in Flushing, there is also concern with a high number of teachers and students absent.
To draw attention to the school's plight, City Councilman John Liu, a candidate for City Comptroller, came in to teach a math class to make up for a teacher shortage. A total of 30 of the school's 50 teachers have already called out.
"The Department of Education and the Department of Health need to clearly explain why this school is open, and why this school is safe for everybody," said Liu.
"Anybody who has had difficulty breathing or any other conditions doesn't want to be here, I don't blame them. But at the same time, we have to provide instruction," said JHS 189 Principal Cindy Diaz-Burgos.
Though the number of students has dwindled, out of 747 enrolled, 245 were absent on Wednesday.