Harrington's absence explained: meningitis

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington is expected to return to part-time work next week after a monthlong, illness-related absence that hadn't been officially explained until Wednesday.

Nebo School District Superintendent Chris Sorensen, in a public study session before a Wednesday school board meeting, said Harrington had been diagnosed with viral meningitis. State Office of Education spokesman Mark Peterson confirmed that Harrington had contracted meningitis but that her illness wasn't announced or explained unless people specifically asked. "We figured it was a health-related issue and a personal issue to the superintendent."

Harrington's three associate superintendents will continue to manage the office in her absence, he said.

Viral meningitis symptoms are serious and include inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control Web site.

It is not bacterial meningitis, which can result in disability or death if not treated right away. Treatment for viral meningitis, from which people typically recover completely, is typically bed rest and fluids.

Harrington has been out for about a month. Associate superintendents Christine Kearl, Patrick Ogden and Ray Timothy have filled in at public meetings, including the August governor's education summit and September state Board of Education meeting, and on committees including the governor's student achievement working group.

In some of those meetings, school leaders and legislators have alluded to Harrington's health, praising her professionalism and wishing her well; one lawmaker said he prayed for her recovery.

Friend Rosemarie Smith said Harrington had been experiencing migraine-like symptoms for some time and last week was diagnosed with viral meningitis. She said Harrington has been resting, but also checking messages and communicating with people in her office in preparation for next week's probable return.

---

E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com; jtcook@desnews.com