Jordan School District principals and counselors stepped in to teach students Monday because 227 teachers called in sick.
The district placed 184 substitute teachers in classrooms, but 43 teaching slots could not be filled by substitutes. The substitute list was depleted because many substitute teachers themselves were home ill with the flu.On an average day, about 100 teachers call in sick, said Dahl. There are 3,000 teachers and administrators in the Jordan School District.
"We're encouraging students with the flu to stay home until they are completely well," said Patty Dahl, spokeswoman for Jordan School District.
This has been the highest year of absenteeism for teachers and students, said Dahl. "It's a particularly bad strain. Students and teachers are staying ill longer."
To avoid disruption in learning, teachers are required to file their teaching plans with their schools to enable substitutes to continue with regularly scheduled lessons.
"We ask parents to teach their children to wash their hands frequently and do everything possible to avoid passing the flu bug on to others," said Dahl.