Bonham Independent School District — a five-facility district serving Fannin County in North Texas — will close for one week, starting Wednesday, due to high rates of flu transmission among students and staff, according to a report from NBC5.
About 300 students and staff were out sick Tuesday. In total, the school district educates about 1,900 students. The district normally experiences a 3 percent daily absentee rate.
"Friday we had [a] 7 percent absence rate. Today, it hit 14 percent and that scared me quite a bit," Dr. Marvin Beaty, the school district's superintendent, told NBC5. Dr. Beatty said he decided to shut the school district down after consulting with medical professionals.
Cleaning crews will be working to disinfect the five facilities over the course of the week. Classes will resume Jan. 24.
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