UPDATED: Todd Schools closed Thursday and Friday due to illness

For the second time this school year, Todd County Schools will be closed Thursday and Friday due to illness.

District officials say it’s due to illness with students and faculty and both days will be non-traditional instruction days.

Students should complete days six and seven in their packets.

Custodial staff will thoroughly clean the buildings during the closure.

Superintendent Ed Oyler issued the following statement:

Following a 2-day closure due to sickness on February 14 and 15, Todd County Schools continue to be impacted with illness. Todd County Schools are closed again on Thursday February 28 and Friday, March 1 due to declining attendance and sickness with both students and staff. Since Monday, all schools districtwide have been impacted with sickness and illnesses in schools, with verified cases of the flu, upper respiratory infections and streptococcus among students and staff. Kentucky health officials are also reporting widespread flu activity in the commonwealth. 

The decision to close was a proactive one. Attendance numbers started to decline throughout the week with many parents saying their children were sick. By Wednesday, attendance numbers at all schools were steadily declining, with all district schools reporting abnormally high absences and students sent home sick. Many teachers and members of the staff were also ill, creating substitute teacher shortages within the buildings and substitute bus drivers covering routes. Thursday and Friday custodial staff at each school were working to deep clean and disinfect each classroom and building. Thursday and Friday are Non-Traditional Instruction days 6 and 7 for Todd County students.