More schools across Northern Michigan make the decision to shut down due to flu bug
Read more: Local, Health, Education
Traverse City's West Middle School will be closed through Friday after a significant increase in student absences due to flu-like symptoms.
Superintendent Jim Feil says the decision was made on the advice of the Grand Traverse County Health Department to close West Middle School Thursday and Friday. TCAPS' Freshmen Academy will be dismissed from West Middle School and its 5th hour class at West Senior High School for the remainder of the week.
All extra-curricular and evening activities for West Middle School are also being cancelled. School leaders plan to re-open on Monday and will continue to communicate with families over the weekend to assess the situation. Officials say they are monitoring the situation hourly in all schools throughout the district to be certain that everyone is safe.
A decision whether or not to reopen West Middle School next Monday, October 26th will be made by Sunday evening, October 25th. Parents and staff are asked to notify West Middle School on Sunday between the hours of 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm to report whether their child may be absent on Monday due to flu-like illness.
By 9:00 Sunday evening officials say an AlertNow message will be sent to all parents and staff.
Here is a list of the districts closed this week:
Boyne City Public Schools/Charlevoix County: Closed Wed-Friday
Brimley Schools: Closed Thurs. & Friday
Casman Academy: Closed Thursday & Friday
Cheboygan Schools: Closed Thurs. & Friday (Athletics to continue as scheduled)
Concord Academy Boyne City: Closed Thurs. & Friday
East Jordan Schools/Charlevoix County: Closed Tuesday-Friday
Engadine Consolidated Schools: Closed Thurs. & Friday (all weekend activities cancelled Saturday and Sunday)
Evart Schools/Osceola County: Closed Tuesday-Friday No weekend activities
Harbor Springs Public Schools/Emmet County Closed Wed-Friday
Mt. Pleasant Public Schools/Isabella County: Closed Wed-Friday
Onekama Schools/Manistee County: Closed Wed-Friday
Traverse City Prep Academy: Closed Thurs. & Friday
Traverse City West Middle School: Closed Thurs. & Friday
The schools will be thoroughly cleaned while closed. It's not known if the districts are dealing with a swine flu or seasonal flu outbreak at this time. For more information click on the links provided:
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/
http://www.co.grand-traverse.mi.us/departments/health.htm
http://www.nwhealth.org/
