OAK HILL, Fla. – Tragedy struck Burns Science and Technology Charter School in Oak Hill, Florida, as a fourth-grade student succumbed to meningitis, as confirmed by the Florida Department of Health branch in Volusia County. The health department promptly provided detailed information to the school, which subsequently notified the parents of 44 other students who may have had close contact with the affected student.
Following the devastating news, school administrators issued a notice to parents on Friday afternoon without explicitly mentioning the boy’s passing. The message conveyed that a case of meningitis had been confirmed in the fourth grade, prompting parents to be vigilant over the weekend and monitor their children for any symptoms. Albert Amalfitano, Chair of the Board for the charter school, expressed profound sorrow for the family of the deceased student and emphasized the institution’s commitment to taking necessary precautions to safeguard other students.
Meningitis, an infection that causes inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, typically manifests in symptoms such as headache, fever, stiff neck, confusion, rash, or nausea. The disease is known to spread through close contact, prompting the health department to urge prompt medical attention for any child exhibiting such symptoms. The identity of the boy who tragically passed away has not been disclosed.
Despite being privately operated, Burns Science and Technology Charter School remains an integral part of the broader network of Volusia County schools. Jessica McIntyre, coordinator of mental health services for the school district, has mobilized professional mental health counselors to assist students and staff in coping with the grief stemming from the student’s untimely death.
As the community processes this heartbreaking event, updates on the situation will be shared as they unfold, underscoring the ongoing nature of this developing story.