METROPOLIS CLOSES SCHOOL AFTER TEACHERS BECOME SICK

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Potluck turned to bad luck for 23 teachers at the Metropolis Middle School Thursday who came down with food poisoning after a faculty lunch.

A smoked turkey that had not been cooked sufficiently was blamed for sending all but two of the school's teachers to bed rest or the hospital the next day. The faculty had participated in a potluck lunch, and the only teachers not affected were the two who did not eat the turkey.

Metropolis School Superintendent Don Smith said he was forced to close the middle school today because of insufficient staff.

"I've been told that this type of thing has a 72-hour run, but it's been more than that already," Smith said. "We'll have to see how much of the staff can come back and how many substitutes there are in the area before we can determine if we'll have school on Tuesday."

Smith said the turkey was not prepared in the school cafeteria. The malady also forced the superintendent to cancel some fifth- and sixth-grade boys' and girls' basketball games because they did not have anyone to staff the events.

The department of health is studying samples of the turkey and has promised Smith an evaluation within the week.

"I've been in education for 36 years and I've never seen anything like this," Smith said.