One of five Dallas ISD students who had contact with an Ebola patient attended Tasby Middle School for part of Wednesday before being sent home, district officials said.
The boy lives in an apartment where the patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, had been staying after arriving in Dallas from Liberia. Health officials told the family Tuesday to keep the children out of school until the 21-day incubation period for the virus passes.
“We’re not sure why the Tasby student showed up for school on Wednesday, but once he was identified, he was asked to go to the nurse’s office so that a parent could be contacted. During the limited time he was on campus, he showed no symptoms yesterday either,” DISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said in an email.
DISD spokesman André Riley was not certain how long the student was in school but said it was the “early part of the day.” He reiterated that none of the five students has shown any symptoms of having the virus.
Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, said the family was notified Tuesday about the need to keep the students home. “Everybody was aware. Maybe he took it upon himself to go to school,” Thompson said.
Out for three weeks
The five students, who have not been named, attend Conrad High School, Tasby Middle School, and Hotchkiss and Rogers elementary schools. They are to stay out of school for three weeks and will be monitored by Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Despite assurances from Superintendent Mike Miles that the schools are safe, those campuses saw a decline in attendance Thursday.
The schools had 86 percent attendance, down from a normal rate of about 96 percent. The attendance rate was unchanged for the rest of the district and the teaching staff. DISD didn’t provide attendance information by school.
Some parents took their kids out of school early on Wednesday after learning about the five students. Others picked up their children at the end of the school day and said they might keep them home until they feel it’s safe.
Before the start of school Thursday, parents and students talked about their concerns.
Ashley Jackson said it was a tough decision to send her 5-year-old daughter to Rogers Elementary.
“My major concern is if she catches the virus,” Jackson said. “I’m still scared even now.”
Larry Williams dropped his son off an hour late at Hotchkiss Elementary after debating whether to take him to school.
“I’m scared, though. I’m scared for myself, too,” he said. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
At Conrad High School, teens strolled in pairs or small groups, chatting about the Ebola news. A swarm of reporters pulled some kids aside to get their thoughts. Some students chose to disconnect from the fray by putting on headphones and walking alone, but many shared their concerns.
Concerns about bullying
Angela Gandy, a 14-year-old freshman, said she was concerned about possible backlash against the children of African immigrants who live in the diverse neighborhoods near Conrad. “They’ve started to bully the African kids,” she said.
“So many refugees are bullied around here for speaking different languages, doing things differently, and listening to different music. It’s not American music and they get made fun of,” Angela said. “Now it’s getting worse because of Ebola.”
Some Conrad students nervously wondered if they had been in contact with the student who had been exposed to the patient from Liberia. Others joked about the virus. One girl shrieked when her friend used borrowed Chapstick, “You’re going to use that — with Ebola going around?”
Miles visited the campuses Thursday — as he had done on Wednesday — and sought to alleviate fears at a news conference.
“We have additional nurses and health professionals,” he said. “Our nurses are making two rounds during the school day in every classroom. They don’t usually do that.”
The district is helping the five students keep up with their school work while they remain in isolation at an apartment complex in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood.
After school Wednesday, a cluster of boys waited outside the apartments and talked about their friend from Tasby Middle School.
With a beat-up football in his hands, 13-year-old Marcelo Catalan described his classmate as smart and generous. “He likes to share. He has footballs. If you go ask to borrow one, he’ll let you. Probably, he’ll give you one,” he said.
Marcelo said he felt sorry for him and the family. “He’s a nice guy,” Marcelo said. “He’s our friend.”
Staff writers Katelyn Hall, Leah Johnson and Dianne Solís contributed to this report.
thobbs@dallasnews.com
Follow Tawnell D. Hobbs on Twitter at @tawnell.
