The New Mexico school toolkit proposes an excellent web-based strategy for communicating pandemic influenza information to three distinct audiences in the state school system. These include: 1) School and district administrators; 2) Teachers, nurses, and other staff; and 3) English- and Spanish-speaking parents, students, and concerned community members. The web site design (when operational) will direct the user to specific information with tabs for each population. Clear and thoughtful information is presented without jargon so that it will be accessible, understandable, and familiar to school personnel and community members. This model provides an excellent framework for preparedness in any school district, and it may serve as an appropriate platform for just-in-time messaging. The toolkit could be improved with use of graphics, identification of other messaging sources (e.g., school newsletters, PSAs), and outreach to vulnerable populations, although the content may become richer over time as the site is developed.
