MNN - Mother Nature Network

I just read an article online about Lisa Cotton, a 12th-grader in Louisiana who has had perfect attendance since kindergarten.
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/05/29/lisa-iron-cotton-haynes-academy-perfect-attendance-never-missed-class
On the surface this is a commendable thing - how many other kids today are so determined and goal-oriented? But toward the end of the article, we learn that Lisa has gone to school with STREP THROAT and SCARLET FEVER! And the only thing her mother says of this is that Lisa "rarely complains about things like this...she didn't miss a beat."
Um, Ms. Cotton? At that point, nobody cares about your daughter's determination. It's about not creating an epidemic in your town! How irresponsible a parent do you have to be, when your child is seriously ill with a contagious disease and you allow her to attend school anyways, simply because she doesn't want to miss her chance at an AWARD?? Does Lisa and her mother know how many individuals in the school might possibly have compromised immune systems or other underlying health problems? How would she feel if it were the other way around and another student were coming in to infect her child? 
I'm unable to get over this story. What utterly irresponsible parenting! What kind of life lessons is this mom teaching her daughter - that it's ok to compromise the well-being of others, just as long as you get what you want? Is that award THAT important to her?
Sad.