Schools are closed Thursday and Friday in two West Tennessee counties, not because of severe winter weather, but because of an alarming number of sick students.
The heads of McNairy County Schools and Hardeman County Schools shut down classes after an increase in students reporting flu-like symptoms.
While the schools are closed, facilities will be thoroughly disinfected.
Parents are glad the schools are taking precautions.
On a Thursday afternoon, Sorrell Goff’s two sons would normally be in school at Selmer Elementary and Selmer Middle. But all public schools in McNairy County are closed Thursday and Friday because a higher than usual number of students are sick.
Parent Sorrell Goff said the symptoms sound a lot like the flu.
“Fever, flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, vomiting, aches and chills,” Goff said.
John Prince, director of McNairy County Schools, made the decision to close.
“Earlier this week, the first three days of this week, our absentee rate was double what it normally is. We’ve had several teachers out sick as well, or taking care of their own sick children,” he said.
Prince said on an average day, 200 to 250 students are out sick.
But earlier this week, that number soared to 540.
Schools in McNairy County are being disinfected while they are closed.
Goff believes that’s the best choice.
“Oh, I’m glad. because I don’t want my children getting sick. I want them to be healthy and go to school to learn and not wallow in germs,” Goff said.
And it’s the same story in Hardeman County.
This week, absentees climbed from four percent of students a day to 13 percent.
The shutdown affects nine schools in Hardeman County.
Kenealia Armour is a parent with children in the Hardeman County School District.
“I know that we have a lot of sickness, so I’m glad that they closed down to get everything disinfected,” Armour said.
Steve Wooten said just about everyone knows someone who’s dealing with the bug.
“I talked to my first cousin’s wife, she’s a teacher, and she thinks it’s a good idea. ‘Cause so many students were out sick. Over half in some of her classes,” he said.
Madeline Knoblauch is a senior at Middleton High School.
“One of my friends was out for a week and a half with strep throat,” she said.
Schools in Hardeman and McNairy counties are scheduled to resume normal schedules starting Monday.