LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Little Rock School District posted on Facebook Sunday evening announcing that school will be canceled on Monday and Tuesday of this week, citing a "higher than normal absenteeism at the student and staff levels due to the flu season."
The post also says that "the number of calls that we received by 5 p.m. totaled more than 250 staff members out," This nearly doubles the number of staff who called in on similar days during the previous week.
"We hope that students, staff and parents are able to utilize these next two days to get rest and recover," the district said in an online statement. "We will use our maintenance staff to provide additional cleaning at school sites "
According to LRSD officials, Alternate Method of Instruction (AMI) days cannot be used for this closure, and students will have to make the days up later.
The school district wants to remind parents that it's not too late for a flu shot and they encourage extra handwashing.
According to Be Mighty Little Rock, since the Little Rock schools are closed, the following locations will offer fun activities and free meals for kids and teens 18 and younger:
- G3 Academy located at 1200 Bishop Warren Dr.
Lunch from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. - Spanish Jons Apartments located at 5001 W. 65th St.
Lunch from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Snack from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. - Whispering Hills located at 11500 Chicot Rd.
Lunch from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Snack from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. - Colonial Parc Apartments located at 5813 Baseline Rd.
Lunch from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Snack from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. - FEED First USA located at 6124 Baseline Rd.
Lunch from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Snack from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System - Williams Branch
3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - CALS Children's Library and Learning Center
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) – McMath Library
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) - Oley Rooker
3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) - Dee Brown
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - CALS Fletcher Library
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System CALS - Terry Library
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - CALS Kids @ Main Library Level 4: Teens at Main Library (CALS)
3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Millie Brooks Library
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) – Nixon Library
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) - Amy Sanders Library
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
More on this story as it develops.