High numbers of flu cases in SC cause Midlands schools to pivot to virtual learning

What is expected to be a more severe flu season that the U.S. has seen in years has already moved at least two Midlands area schools online.

Northside Christian Academy in Lexington and Gray Collegiate Academy in West Columbia both closed and pivoted to virtual learning this week amid a high number of flu cases.

“At the peak Monday afternoon, we had 118 absences,” said Brian Newsome, principal of Gray Collegiate Academy. Not all of those absences can be tied directly to the flu, but many of them can be, he said.

Gray announced Monday that it would transition to online classes Tuesday Nov. 1 through Friday, Nov. 4.

The ability to pivot to virtual learning will hopefully ensure the school doesn’t have another bad outbreak this season, Newsome added. During the four days of online classes, cleaning crews have been disinfecting nearly every school surface students come in contact with.

Had the school not pivoted, Newsome said the flu would have just continued to spread.

“They don’t want to be out,” he said of Gray’s students. “We knew that if we did not make the rest of the week a virtual week, we would have had those kids coming to school ill because they wanted to be there.”

Northside Christian Academy also closed this week in favor of virtual learning, pivoting online Thursday and Friday.

“As many of you are aware, we have a high percentage of students that have experienced illnesses in the past few days. Due to the number of rising cases (of) varied illnesses within our student body, it has been decided to close NCA this Thursday, November 3rd and Friday, November 4th. We believe that this will give our ill students the necessary time that is needed to recover, as well as prevent any continued spread of illnesses,” an email to Northside Christian Academy parents reads.

Richland School District 1 said they have not had any flu outbreaks in the district this season, according to district spokesperson Karen York. The State is awaiting information from Richland School District 2.

The closures come as experts warn of a particularly severe flu season.

By the end of October, the U.S. as a whole was already recording nearly record high levels of flu, with figures worse than they’ve been in 13 years, according to a Washington Post analysis.

More than 8,000 flu cases have been reported in South Carolina as of DHEC’s latest data published Oct. 29.

South Carolina reported its first flu-related death of the season Oct. 14.

“We are concerned that there is the potential for a severe flu season in South Carolina and nationally based on what we’ve seen in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, director of public health for the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control, in a release announcing the death.

“Australia has just experienced one of its worst flu seasons in years, and that may mean that we, too, will experience a flu season that’s much more severe than what we’ve been accustomed to the last few years,” she said.

On Oct. 31, the state reported its first pediatric flu-related death.

“Although we are early in the season, we have been seeing widespread flu activity since the first week. This suggests we could have a severe flu season, and we all must take actions to protect ourselves and others,” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in the release announcing that death.

As the flu continues to spread, advocates hope more schools utilize the ability to go virtual.

Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association, said virtual learning is a good tool to keep students and teachers safe during illness outbreaks.

She had not heard about any major flu outbreaks in South Carolina schools as of Thursday afternoon, but said if outbreaks do occur they may have ripple effects for schools.

Districts are already dealing with staffing problems, East said, explaining that there aren’t enough substitutes to cover classrooms when teachers call out sick.

“So if something like the flu hits, it probably wouldn’t take much to push people over the edge right now because there’s not enough subs,” she said.

East said virtual learning is “probably here to stay for these cases.” She encourages schools to use the infrastructure created during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for online learning, but stressed that there are some barriers that haven’t been fully addressed in the last two years.

If schools do decide to use virtual learning during health emergencies, or during inclement weather as was done during the approach of Hurricane Ian, there must be ways to include students who don’t have internet access, East added.