Slaton ISD said the district saw a 17 percent absence rate on Tuesday because of students suffering from the flu and strep throat.
Slaton Superintendent Julee Becker said the absentee rate has been in the double digits all this week. A normal day would be 5 percent, Slaton ISD said.
Students were already going to have the day off Wednesday for a teacher work day. But now, due to circumstances, teachers will deep clean the schools on Wednesday.
The district also deep cleaned schools on Monday night.
Becker said the junior high school in particular has been hit hard. Classes are scheduled to resume on Thursday. Classes were never canceled.
After this story was initially published, Slaton ISD released the following statement:
We have received questions in our district in regard to a flu epidemic in Slaton ISD. While our student attendance has been lower this week than any time this school year, Flu A and B account for only 1 in 3 of our students that are absent. We are blessed to have cleaning staff in place that follow Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines every day. A Professional Development Day, Student Goals day and Student Holiday has been scheduled for February 6, 2019 on our Board of Trustees adopted calendar since last Spring. We will continue to deep clean tomorrow while we meet with parents for GOALS day and our teachers participate in a Professional Development Day. We will resume our regularly scheduled school week on Thursday.