Racine School Closes Because of Illness: Nearly 15% Call in Sick at 21st Century
Posted on: Wednesday, 15 March 2006, 03:03 CST
By Sheila B. Lalwani, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Mar. 15--Racine -- Officials at the 21st Century Preparatory School spent Tuesday disinfecting the building after illness among staff and students forced the school to temporarily close.
For the first time in its four-year history, the school closed Tuesday because of illness after almost 15% of the school's administrative staff and faculty called in sick Monday. The school plans to reopen Thursday.
Executive Director Michele Clarke said students at the school, 1220 Mound Ave., began to fall ill last week. Friday, teachers were getting sick. The school employs 23 full-time teachers, who make up about half of the school's staff of 47, she said.
About 385 students attend the school, and about 40 of the students have been absent because of sickness, she said.
"We've been watching the student population illness grow over the past week," Clarke said. "Over the weekend, it started to hit the teachers."
The school had a difficult time maintaining and finding substitute teachers, which prompted the school to call for a recess, Clarke said.
A few other area schools have experienced similar problems. Student illnesses at this time of year tend to be higher, officials said, but absences this year have been higher than other years.
In a report distributed through the Racine Unified School District, health officials found that absences have increased this month. But Linda Flashinski, spokeswoman for the Racine Unified School District, said the absences do not warrant closing any buildings.
At 21st Century, it was unclear whether the school would make up for the lost days. The school runs on a 190-day calendar, instead of the 180-day calendar most schools follow. The school is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is longer than most schools.
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Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Source: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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