Fayette schools closed for rest of week due to widespread illness

Due to widespread illness all Fayette County Public Schools will be closed Thursday February 6 and Friday February 7, district officials said Wednesday.

“We have been monitoring absences all week, and we have continued to see a downward trend, with pockets of unusually high illness, including some schools with more than 1 in 4 students out sick,” a message to families in Lexington said.

Student attendance was less than 90 percent at 11 of the district’s schools Wednesday and four of six high schools were right at the 90 percent mark, the message said.

Absences were higher than average at 48 schools districtwide and district officials have seen increasing staff illness, making it difficult to ensure that classes are covered.

All after school, evening and weekend activities are canceled, district spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall said.

Custodians will deep clean and sanitize schools on Thursday and Friday.

Several other districts in Kentucky have canceled classes in recent weeks due to illness, but this is Fayette’s first such cancellation of the school year.

This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 6:19 PM.