Southern Reynolds schools close because of flu

ELLINGTON, Mo. -- Southern Reynolds schools in Ellington are closed until next Monday after administrators saw district attendance fall below 80 percent Monday, the Daily American Republic reported.

Problems began Thursday, said Superintendent Mike Redlich.

"Our attendance just kept dropping. Yesterday we had 115 kids of 525 out," he explained. "We felt like we needed to give them a chance to get better."

While the high school was more affected last week, the elementary was hit harder this week, he said. Attendance in the lower grades was 74 percent Monday, Redlich said.

Also a problem were the number of staff members and substitutes who were sick or had to stay home with sick children, he said.

Southern Reynolds plans to use this break to do some extra disinfecting.

"Hopefully, we will come back Monday and everyone will be on the mend," Redlich said.

The district has already missed one day due to flooding and with this week, will have been out five days before Thanksgiving.

"It puts us behind," Redlich said. "We have 10 (extra) days built into the calendar, but if we have weather like we have the past few years we could be in session until the end of May."

Two years ago the district missed 17 days due to snow, ice and flooding, Redlich said.

Students will begin making up missed days Dec. 21 and 22, which were scheduled to be part of Christmas vacation. Additional makeup days will likely be scheduled during spring holidays, Redlich said.