POLK COUNTY, Ga. — A Georgia school district will close its buildings on Friday to take preventative measures due to the flu and norovirus.
Polk County Schools district says there have been “excessive” student absences. The district will transition students to a Learn-From-Home Day on Friday to deep clean buildings.
This closure will also allow for additional recovery time for those who are affected by these viruses.
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Polk County Schools said it currently has 761 students and 63 school-level staff members who have reported illnesses.
That’s 10% or more of the student population at each school and it’s also a “shortage of necessary staff to operate effectively,” according to the district.
“This decision is not made lightly and as always we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. Extra-curricular activities and after-school events will not be affected,” the district said.
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The closure will allow all campus facilities to receive a “comprehensive deep cleaning to help reduce the spread of illness and ensure a sanitized environment for everyone upon reopening.”
Parents are encouraged to take precautions to ensure their students are safe and are not bringing viruses to school.
The district is encouraging parents to monitor for symptoms of sickness, ensure they are washing their hands and keeping sick students at home until they are symptom/fever-free.
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