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Community members react to flu outbreak causing school closures at West Hardin CCISD

The district will remain closed until Monday, March 25.

SARATOGA, Texas — West Hardin CCISD announced on social media on Tuesday that school will be closed for the remainder of the week due to recent flu outbreak. 

Superintendent of Schools Jim Armstrong told 12News in an email that roughly eight percent of the students and staff members are impacted by the seasonal virus.

The statement from Armstrong says he decided to close the district after consulting with the Hardin County Health Department and the Center for Disease Control. 

RELATED: West Hardin CCISD cancels school due to rise in flu cases

“We are very hopeful that these days out will allow plenty of time for the flu to run its course in those already affected (both late and early stages), keep our folks out of confined spaces inside the school reducing the risk of exposure for students and staff not currently infected,” Armstrong said, in part, in the statement.

He says the time off will allow 'another complete cleaning' over the weekend. 

In a 2017-2018 report from the Texas Association of Education, West Hardin had approximately 550 students. Based on what Armstrong told us, about 50 students and staff members have flu-like symptoms. 

Included in that number is Arkia Prince’s daughter, who has been sick for the past couple months. Prince says the district should have taken these precautions when the issue first started.

 “If it was about the children learning, when it first started being an epidemic, a month ago, they should have shut it down,” Prince said. 

The mother of three says her daughter has spent the past few months in and out of doctor’s office due to a virus she contracted while at school. She now must attend school on Saturday’s to make up for those missed days to prevent having to go to truancy court.  

“It’s only March and she has been in the hospital five times,” Prince said. "I know it came from the school. I don’t take my kids anywhere. I’m one of those moms, where my 9-month-old doesn’t go to the beach until she’s two and a half.”

Classes will resume for West Hardin CCISD on Monday. 

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