CHESHIRE - With many Cheshire High School students out with the flu and other ailments, school administrators continue trying to keep illnesses from spreading, but school officials stressed Thursday that the decision to cancel football practices and to postpone tonight's game between Cheshire and West Haven does not reflect a problem district-wide, where the number of absences is not significantly higher.

Absences at the high school numbered between 140 and 150 earlier this week. The normal level is around 40 to 50 students out of a school population of 1,600.

District-wide absences have increased from about four to five percent to between eight and 10 percent.

"It's been high, but not drastically higher," said School Superintendent Greg Florio. "The numbers in the district aren't alarming."

Assistant Superintendent Scott Detrick sent a letter home to parents concerning the H1N1 virus, instructing them to keep children with flu symptoms home until those symptoms are no longer present for 24 hours.

The letter also said there have been confirmed cases of H1N1 virus at each of the schools. Florio said that the parents of children with the H1N1 virus had kept their children home.

On the recommendation of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand sanitizers were put in public areas of school buildings, Florio said.

A multicultural event at Dodd Middle School scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed to keep illnesses from spreading. The event involves people bringing food dishes and eating together. Dodd Principal Jeff Solan said the event has not yet been rescheduled.

High school interim principal Kevin Ryan and Athletic Director Steve Trifone canceled this week's football practices after nearly half of the 72 players fell sick. Tonight's game in West Haven was postponed until Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.

"Our assumption is having five days, our kids will rest and relax and feel better Monday," Ryan said. Practices will resume on Monday, and other practices are unaffected.

Part of the reason for canceling the football practice was to keep players home when they're sick, since some would have toughed it out and come to practice anyway.

The boys' locker rooms at the high school will receive a deep cleaning while the team is at home.

Illnesses varied, Ryan said. Several had flu-like symptoms while others had strep throat. "Then there's a core of kids not feeling well," he said.

Teachers at the high school are also being encouraged not to come in if they experience any flu symptoms.

"We've tried to send a similar message across the district," Florio said.

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