Randy Cowling
Managing Editor
CLAREMORE —
In this day and age of health scares, Claremore Public School officials have found full disclosure is the best course of action.
Late Sunday evening, Claremore Superintendent Mike McClaren received news that a staff member at Claremont Elementary had a confirmed case of meningitis.
The staff member was hospitalized on Friday for other health issues.
McClaren did not shy away from the situation or the media. Parents of Claremont students, faculty and staffers were notified of the staff member’s condition and assured there had been limited contact with the ill staffer.
As an extra precaution, McClaren ordered the elementary school be thoroughly cleaned. With students and teachers not returning to school until today because of the Labor Day holiday, officials took advantage of the holiday to clean the school to avoid cancelling classes.
McClaren also helped quell parents and the public’s fears about the meningitis outbreak. He assured the public this strain was unlike the one that left two Oologah-Talala students dead and five others seriously ill. One student lost his limbs and went through extensive surgeries.
Throughout this health scare, Claremore school officials have been available and willing to comment about the school’s approach to cleaning the school and to keeping students, staff and faculty safe.
By being forthright, McClaren and Claremore school officials have given the public confidence in their leadership.
