Stigler Public Schools out rest of week with spread of illness

Stigler Public Schools decided during the afternoon on Wednesday, Feb. 8, to close schools for the Feb. 9 and 10 due to a high number of illnesses. Stigler Public Schools Superintendent Monty Guthrie stated that 211 children were out of school with sickness, along with 14 staff members.

"Being off a couple of days and with the weekdend, we can disinfect the school. And with a few days, we can have them back healthy," Guthrie said.

Guthrie added that educating students becomes difficult with significant portions of classrooms absent.

"With that many kids out of school, the quality of education goes down and you have to reteach everything," he said.

Illnesses that have occurred include influenza viruses, strep throat, non-flu stomach viruses and colds. Guthrie said that the school system encourages students and staff members to get flu vaccines to reduce the risk of those infections.