U.S. health officials will soon release plans instructing schools on how to handle possible swine flu outbreaks.

Schools are anxiously waiting to hear the government's plan.  The question at hand is wether to close or stay open when there is a suspected outbreak.

When schools were hit with the swine flue last spring the government urged them to close.  However, some experts now say that didn't help prevent the virus from spreading.

"The virus is so widespread that it's not clear that closing a school down is actually helpful," said Dr. Greg Poland of the Mayo Clinic.

Others say it's better to be safe than sorry.   

"If a lot of kids were getting it and it became an epidemic just in the school year then, yes, I think it should be closed," said parent Dawn Crockett.

Still, parents also argue it costs more to close schools and forces them to stay home from work.