POLK COUNTY, Ga. — A North Georgia school district closed its buildings Friday to take preventative measures because of the flu and norovirus.
The Polk School District says there have been “excessive” student absences. The district transitioned students to a Learn-From-Home Day on Friday so crews could 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 school leaders said they currently have 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.
Whitney Gibson has two children – a fifth grader and eighth grader – in Polk County schools. She said they have avoided getting sick by taking a lot of zinc and “washing hands, staying away from people that are sick and think we’re OK.”
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She said the school system made the right decision in closing campuses Friday.
“I’m OK with it, as long as they get everything together and they can keep everybody safe, I don’t have a problem,” she said.
Daisy Redwine agrees. She has several nieces and nephews in Polk County schools.
“It’s not a good idea for the kids to be sick and they’re sending them to school and they’re passing it to everybody,” she said.
“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.
The closure allowed 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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