Whitley Co. schools closed through Wednesday | Lexington Herald Leader

Administrators closed all 10 schools in the Whitley County school district Monday through Wednesday because a large number of students exhibited flu-like symptoms.

"I don't know the specific reason that the students are missing, but I do know that we had a high rate of absenteeism, so we decided to take a break," Superintendent Lonnie Anderson said.

Attendance was at about 85 percent on Friday, Anderson said. The attendance rate at this time of the year is usually about 94 percent.

About 4,900 are enrolled in Whitley schools.

Anderson has talked to health department officials, who told him that students seem to also have other viral infections and an "intestinal bug," he said.

"We thought we'd give the kids a chance to heal up a bit and stay away from each other for a few days," he said.