Flu shuts down two area schools

Flulike illnesses have prompted two Southeast Missouri school districts to cancel classes for much of the week.

Some other districts, including Cape Girardeau, experienced an increase in the number of sick students, particularly in elementary schools, officials said Thursday.

The Charleston School District canceled classes Wednesday, Thursday and today. The Marquand-Zion School District called off school Thursday and today. Classes in both districts are to resume Monday.

Charleston superintendent Kevin Miller and Marquand superintendent Duane Schindler said Thursday they hoped the break would keep the illness from spreading any further.

Both said holding classes made little sense with so many students absent.

Cape Girardeau School District superintendent Dr. David Scala said many students at Jefferson and Franklin elementary schools were out sick earlier this week.

On Tuesday 40 students were absent from Jefferson and 54 from Franklin. But only 23 Jefferson students and 30 Franklin students were out sick Thursday, Scala said.

District officials monitored the situation throughout the week. But Scala said the illnesses didn't warrant closing school.

Charleston students started getting sick about a week and a half ago, complaining of sore throats, headaches and other symptoms, Miller said.

"Monday, it really began to escalate on us," he said.

In all, 220 of the district's 1,137 students, or about 20 percent, missed school that day. Tuesday, the number of absences was 240.

Miller contacted Mississippi County health officials and local doctors. They agreed the district should cancel classes for the remainder of the week.

On Wednesday, the district began sanitizing and disinfecting school buildings, Miller said. The task was completed at the elementary and middle schools. The high school was scheduled to be sprayed with disinfectant today, he said.

Schindler said more than 50 of the Marquand district's 200 students were absent Wednesday. In addition, five teachers and staff members were absent because of illness, he said.

"It was even affecting our basketball team," he said.

School officials canceled Thursday night's game at Meadow Heights High School. Schindler said he couldn't justify playing a basketball game when classes had been canceled. The game will be rescheduled.

Schindler said the district planned to disinfect doorknobs and the tops of school desks by week's end.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123