It would take "a magnitude of absences" to close schools because of seasonal or swine flu, according to a Natrona County School District official.

Marty Wood, director of support services, said the district is being more proactive than it was in the spring when the first cases of swine flu, caused by the H1N1 virus, appeared internationally.

While the school district has had a pandemic flu plan for several years now, Wood said it is "a worst-case scenario" plan.

"Swine flu could make only a few people sick or a lot of people sick," Wood said.

Health care experts predict the cases of seasonal and swine flu will increase this winter, so the district needed an intermediate plan.

Wood said the district will begin the first stage of its swine flu plan next week by making announcements to students and parents about handwashing. It will also re-educate school nurses on flu symptoms and vaccination protocols.

"Nurses are on the front line," Wood said. "They will be observing how many kids are sick and if 10 percent of kids are sick, they will contact the head school nurse or me."

The district has held weekly meetings with Casper-Natrona County Health Department, said Bob Harrington, director of county health.

The entities have worked to coordinate efforts and messages so children, parents and the public are receiving the same accurate information.

Harrington said they have discussed "ready rooms" for kids who come to school sick and have planned how the schools might help county health with vaccine clinics.

Already, the health department has provided the school district with surgical masks and $5,000 to buy more hand sanitizers.

"With experiences last spring in other areas, swine flu tends to be more active in the younger populations," Harrington said. "If we can keep school from being a transmission site, we're ahead of the game."

Last spring, custodians at University Park Elementary and Principal Sally Huber devised a daily cleaning checklist, such as wiping down doorknobs and tables. Most of these tasks used to be done weekly.

Huber said she also bought teachers Clorox wipes for their classrooms.

"All classrooms have a procedure that before they go to lunch, they wash hands," Huber said.

Parents should immunize their children and themselves against the flu.

If a child has a fever of 100 degrees or more, parents should keep the student home, Wood said. A fever is the No. 1 indicator for flu, he said.

Also, Harrington encourages parents to make a "home plan" for when they may have to keep a sick child home or if school does have to close.

It won't take a certain percentage of sick students to close schools. Wood said they would close only if they are no longer able to provide adequate education to well students.

Many people will be involved in the decision to close schools, much like winter weather closings.

Harrington said they will have to weigh the impacts of closure versus the benefits.

"If things become more serious, we will become more serious," Wood said. "Phase two and phase three we will ratchet it up. We will step up our vigilance and our response in a measured way."