Second area school closes because of flu
St. Mary's Parish School in Hales Corners became the latest area school to close because of flu-like illnesses among students.
The announcement of St. Mary's closing came just a few days after Canterbury Elementary School in Greendale reopened. Canterbury closed for three days after about 44 percent of students were absent Oct. 19 after they experienced flu-like symptoms.
At St. Mary's, more than 30 percent of students were absent Monday, which prompted the Hales Corners Health Department to close the school for at least the subsequent three days.
Hales Corners Health Officer Debra Persak said there is no magic percentage of student absences that trigger a school closure. The Health Department takes every school on a case-by-case basis.
Many factors go into the decision to close, such as the ability to get substitute teachers for sick staff members and the number of students who are particularly at risk of getting the virus, she said.
Greendale village officials reopened Canterbury as planned Oct. 23 but continue to monitor absences there and at all other Greendale schools. By Tuesday, absences in schools began to descend down to normal levels, Greendale Health Officer Sue Shepeard said.
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