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A fast-growing district in the far West Valley may have to suspend
nearly 750 students, taking its toughest measure yet to get students
immunized against childhood diseases.
More than 14 percent of students in the Litchfield Elementary District
don't have their required shots, a rate that startles state health
officials used to a 95 percent immunization rate.
Although school officials in Arizona routinely warn families that their
children will be taken out of school if they don't follow state law, the
Litchfield threat is rare because it could affect so many students.
Officials talk of using a gymnasium to hold students until parents pick
them up if they fail to meet the district's April 28 deadline.
The immunization delinquency is concentrated in the district's two middle
schools, one just opened in January.
Superintendent Tom Heck said the district's main problem is with
seventh-graders. A 2-year-old regulation requires those students to get a
host of new shots, including a series for hepatitis B.
Of Litchfield's 1,850 middle school students, nearly 32 percent aren't up
to date on their immunizations, according to district records.
"That's not common. It is a very high number," said Andie Denious, an
immunization services manager with the state. "It's a matter of suspending
the kids, as state law requires. They aren't suspending. Parents realize
there's no bite."
School officials agree that their lack of enforcement is to blame, as well
as rapid growth that put 1,000 new students in the district this year.
Heck said that with the opening of the new middle school this year, the
district didn't have enough manpower to keep up with immunization records.
"It snowballed on us, and it got out of hand," Heck said. The school
started to get tough after the state Department of Health Services, which
monitors school immunizations, said four of the district's seven schools
were breaking the law.
The district has tried to get parents' attention. At least two notices
were mailed to parents this school year, District Health Coordinator
Patricia Bell said.
On Monday, the district started to send out final notices, warning parents
that if their children's immunizations aren't current by April 28, the
students will be taken out of classes.
"Our goal is to try to get the kids in compliance," Bell said. The state
health department says that students without current shots shouldn't be
allowed to register for school. If they're already enrolled, they must be
suspended. But the district relaxed that policy and registered students
who didn't have all their shots, Bell said.
Denious, of the state health department, said that while some districts
had trouble getting students up-to-date with the new requirements two
years ago, most have since caught up.
Parents are getting the same one-page notice/immunization form this week
that has been sent out before - one that ends with a sentence warning that
students will be suspended.
Bell and Heck stressed that this time, the district is serious.
"I couldn't have made it easier for these parents," Bell said.
The district has sent out information on free immunization clinics and
sponsored three Saturday clinics at schools.
"Kids need to be in school, I know," Bell said. "But the only way we seem
to get folks to comply is to say, 'We'll exclude them.' "
So far, she said, most parents have been understanding.
Arabeth Gilliland said a district notice prompted her to take her
seventh-grade son to get his shots. She said she thinks most parents just
forget about immunizations, especially when series like hepatitis B are
given over a period of months. Still, she agrees with the district's plan
to get students immunized.
"They wouldn't have to do this if parents did what they're supposed to
do," Gilliland said.
For information on free immunization clinics in the area, call (602)
263-8856.