Update:
Recent action by Glenshire Elementary School and surrounding health centers have successfully reduced sickness and viral gastroenteritis cases in the region.
In an email, principal of Glenshire Elementary School Rachael Kuttel said that on Friday morning, she “received confirmation from Nevada County Public Health that Glenshire Elementary’s response was exemplary, that we are no longer experiencing an uptick in illness, and that we may retract our protocols.”
Kuttel had earlier expressed gratitude to the staff, students, and parents of Glenshire Elementary School for the speed and effectiveness of their response.
At the time of publication, Nevada County Public Health had not responded to our requests for comment. Additional information will be added when available.
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On November 18, 2025, Rachael Kuttel, principal of Glenshire Elementary School, sent out an email to parents announcing a recent rise in suspected viral gastroenteritis, or stomach bugs.
In the email, Kuttel stated that they communicated with the Nevada County Communicable Disease Department, and were advised to notify families of the situation and remind them of the precautions they should be taking. This is due to the possibility of this illness being norovirus, an infectious virus with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Norovirus outbreaks are “most common from November to April,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While norovirus can affect people of all ages, it can be difficult to limit the spread in younger children.
Kuttel also attached a letter from Nevada County Public Health, detailing gastrointestinal illnesses and methods of preventing their spread. One emphasized guideline was that “Students may return 48 hours after their last symptom without the use of medication.”
She also explained how Glenshire Elementary was working to limit the spread of illnesses; both teachers and the custodial team are taking steps to protect students and other members of the community.
“Our families immediately followed the recommended protocols,” Kuttle said in an interview over email. “Our teachers increased hand washing routines throughout the day, our students are doing a great job taking care of themselves, and our custodial team has been exceptional in disinfecting campus thoroughly and responding wherever needed.”
She also further clarified their process in disease mitigation; the school nurse, upon recognizing an uptick in certain symptoms, consulted Nevada County Public Health. They responded with the same letter that Kuttel shared, advising proper response to the increase in illness, including how long students should stay home after their last symptom.
This letter describes the spread of and recommended steps to avoid viral gastroenteritis, more commonly known as stomach flu. This illness can be caused by multiple viruses, including noroviruses and adenoviruses.
Kuttel stated that she is unable to share the number of suspected or confirmed cases at the school, but she clarified that there is no official outbreak, which requires two or more confirmed cases.
Editor’s Note:
On December 5, 2025, The Truckee Times posted an insensitive teaser for this story on Instagram. It was unintentionally sensationalist and we apologize deeply to our readers. The post was promptly removed after recognition of our error. The Truckee Times is committed to journalistic integrity and accuracy and will continue to uphold these ideals.
