Schools Closed Twice Due To Illness

LINCOLN — A stomach virus and flu symptoms shut down schools in the Lincoln School District twice last week.

The first closing of elementary, middle school and high school was Jan. 28. Students returned on Thursday but due to students still getting sick and a large number of absences, a decision was made to close the schools again until yesterday.

“About 150 were absent and grew to 250 during the day,” Superintendent Clay Hendrix said on Friday about closing schools for a second time in the district.

“Some teachers were getting sick,” Hendrix said. “Some are having to stay home and care for their own children that are ill.”

Janitors disinfected all schools after the first closing and were again cleaning all schools with a disinfectant solution recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.

Elementary and high school were the hardest hit with illnesses.

Lincoln was not the only school district in Northwest Arkansas to close due to illness.

Springdale’s Hellstern Middle School was closed recently due to the norovirus, a stomach virus causing vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps.

Eureka Springs closed its schools last week due to a large number of students having influenza-like symptoms.

Hendrix said students will make up days lost due to illness at the end of the school year.

The district had 1213 students enrolled at the beginning of 2013, according to Hendrix.