Several School Systems Closing Due to Flu Outbreak

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/02/Flu_bit__1.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:512;s:4:"file";s:22:"2018/02/Flu_bit__1.png";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-336x168.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:168;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-771x386.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:386;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-768x384.png";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:384;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Flu_bit__1-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-600x512.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-622x311.png";s:5:"width";i:622;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-470x235.png";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:235;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-600x400.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-600x512.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"Flu_bit__1-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:50:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1.png";s:13:"original_size";i:125720;s:14:"optimized_size";i:95371;s:7:"percent";d:24.140000000000001;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-140x140.png";s:13:"original_size";i:24836;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17750;s:7:"percent";d:28.530000000000001;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-336x168.png";s:13:"original_size";i:36554;s:14:"optimized_size";i:23977;s:7:"percent";d:34.409999999999997;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-771x386.png";s:13:"original_size";i:251521;s:14:"optimized_size";i:168298;s:7:"percent";d:33.090000000000003;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-80x80.png";s:13:"original_size";i:8811;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6543;s:7:"percent";d:25.739999999999998;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-600x338.png";s:13:"original_size";i:170858;s:14:"optimized_size";i:113969;s:7:"percent";d:33.299999999999997;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-300x300.png";s:13:"original_size";i:95113;s:14:"optimized_size";i:68041;s:7:"percent";d:28.460000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-622x311.png";s:13:"original_size";i:167328;s:14:"optimized_size";i:111761;s:7:"percent";d:33.210000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-470x235.png";s:13:"original_size";i:99786;s:14:"optimized_size";i:66851;s:7:"percent";d:33.009999999999998;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2018/02/Flu_bit__1-125x125.png";s:13:"original_size";i:20342;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14924;s:7:"percent";d:26.629999999999999;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1000869;s:14:"optimized_size";i:687485;s:7:"percent";d:31.309999999999999;}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1616977892 
1518022231

The flu outbreak is forcing several school systems in the northern part of the state to close for a few days. This comes as high absences are reported in schools across the state and health officers investigate an estimated 87 deaths, potentially related to the flu.

The following school systems have confirmed closings for the following dates:

  • Albertville City Schools – Feb. 8th-9th
  • Boaz City Schools – Feb. 8th-9th
  • Cullman County Schools – Feb. 8th-9th
  • Guntersville City Schools – Feb. 8th-9th
  • Marshall County Schools – Feb. 8th-13

Students in Cullman County won’t be in school the rest of this week. About a thousand students were out with the flu Wednesday. Superintendent Shane Barnett says teachers and support staff are out too. The school system, just north of Birmingham, has 9,500 students. Barnett says he’s never had to shut the system down because of illness, but this time he had to do something.

“You know we have a lot of parents who are wore out from their kids having the flu and struggling with that. And some of them are getting better and coming back with weakened immune systems and they’re getting the flu again,” he says, “so I just feel like we’ve got to try something.”

The empty schools will be scrubbed down with disinfectants. Barnett says he’ll reassess the situation on Monday.

 

 

BSC’s Daniel Coleman talks about his years-long effort to save the school and what happens next.

After the news that Birmingham-Southern College is closing, we sat down with the school’s president, Daniel Coleman.

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

More Education Coverage