CALDWELL, TX — Caldwell ISD announced school closures for Monday, November 11 due to a flu outbreak that's caused over 15 percent of the study body to be absent.
The elementary campus has seen the highest numbers of students sick, with over 20 percent of the student body campus out, said officials.
Because of the high number of students out with the flu and flu-like symptoms, and the excessive absences caused by these cases, the school district has decided to close.
After monitoring the situation for several days, school officials determined closing would be the best course of action.
Closing the campus gives the district time to disinfect the campuses.
"During these days, our custodial staff will be doing extensive disinfecting of all rooms and buses. Each room and bus will be sanitized with thorough cleaning and a strong disinfectant fogger or other disinfectant process," said Superintendent Andrew Peters in a letter to parents.
The Superintendent apologizes for any inconvenience the closure may cause, but says the safety of students and faculty must be their first priority.
"We are doing everything we can to stop the spreading of the flu and flu-like symptoms," said Peters.
This isn't the first district to close due to flu outbreak this season. Teague ISD also canceled classes for the same reason Friday, Nov. 8.
In Killeen, a health clinic told 25 News its seeing over 100 cases of flu each day. AdventHealth Central Texas emphasized at the time, it's never too late to get a flu shot.
The flu season starts in October and peaks in December and February, but can last as late as May, according to the CDC.
