March 13, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County Schools will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Monday after school officials say there is widespread sickness and concern over spread of the illness which includes type A & B flu, strep throat, and stomach viruses.
“Absenteeism has grown each day this week throughout the school system but most of it has been in the lower grades. DeKalb West School has probably been affected the most. Its not only students but several teachers and bus drivers have been out sick,” said Joey Reeder, Attendance Supervisor for the DeKalb School System.
“Before making the decision to close schools we talked to various health care professionals to get their opinions and they said it would probably take up to five days for the illness to run its course,” Reeder added.
The school calendar includes thirteen days that can be used for inclement weather or sickness without any makeup days. After Monday, only two days will be left to use this school year.
Meanwhile the Parent-Teacher Conferences that were scheduled for Thursday, March 14 have been postponed until Thursday March 21 from 3-6 p.m. at DeKalb West, Smithville Elementary, Northside Elementary, and DeKalb Middle School.