'Help to stop the spread:' Mother of Good Counsel School in Milwaukee closed due to flu

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School closing due to flu

School closing due to flu



MILWAUKEE -- Mother of Good Counsel School in Milwaukee will be closed for the remainder of the week due to an increasing number of children and staff becoming ill. Officials are shutting down the school so it can be cleaned, and so kids can recover.

There were signs on the doors at the school on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

"I imagine it must be an incredible challenge. I know they had a half-day (Thursday) anyways," Molly Lieberman said.



School officials said 30 percent of students were absent on Tuesday, Feb. 6 due to the flu.

"For us to have 64 sick children, in addition to several faculty/staff members, makes it very difficult for us to carry on with the business of school. Please know that it is not easy to make this decision. I know how difficult it is for working parents, but we have to do what is in the best interest of all," said Principal Regina Shaw in a letter to parents.

Lieberman, a violin instructor, was turned away Wednesday.

"Couldn't get a hold of anyone at the school because, of course, they are not here,so I figured I'd drive over to check -- but sure enough -- no violin lessons for the kids today," Lieberman said.

Mother of Good Counsel School



Justin Holston said he sympathizes with parents because he's been there as a father of two.

Molly Lieberman



"Now you have to have one parent stay home and that's unfortunate because if the kids are at home and the parent is at home somebody is missing work. That affects everybody," Holston said.

He said he wasn't surprised by the decision to close the school.

"It's no fun for the kids. It's no fun for the parent," he said.

Meanwhile, Lieberman said she's thankful for her own health.

"I work with a lot of children so I wash my hands constantly," she said.

Mother of Good Counsel School



Mother of Good Counsel School



Below is the complete text of the letter sent home to parents: