Saint Joe Schools Sees Jump In Students Calling In Sick With Flu

Saint Joseph Schools appear to have been hit pretty hard by the flu this year. On Monday, Superintendent Al Skibbe told us that the district has 626 kids out sick, which is more than 20 percent of the total student population. Most of them were at Upton Middle School and Lincoln Elementary. Skibbe says that the Berrien County Health Department is not recommending that he cancel classes yet, though. According to public health officials, closing schools won't necessarily prevent the spread of the illness. Instead, Skibbe says that he'll consider closing the schools if the total number of absent students goes above 25 percent, since that's a state benchmark for counting anything as an actual full day of classes. Skibbe did note, however, that parents would be given ample notice before any days are canceled. Meanwhile, Lakeshore Schools Superintendent Don Frank tells us that his district is seeing a slight increase in the number of absent students, but nothing major just yet. He estimates that about eight percent of the district's students were out on Monday -- mostly in the middle school and elementary buildings. Benton Harbor district officials didn't have any numbers immediately available regarding absenteeism caused by the flu this week.

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