North Georgia school system plans to resume classes

The Walker County school system plans to resume classes next week after spiking absences forced it to close for two days, according to a post on its Facebook page.

“WCS will operate on a normal schedule next week,” the post said.

The district did not hold classes Thursday and Friday because of an "elevated number of absences" among students and teachers, officials said.

On Tuesday, 916 students were absent, with 272 more checking out during the day, Superintendent Damon Raines told the Northwest Georgia News. Wednesday, student absences increased to 978, with 335 more leaving during the day.

More than 80 teachers were out sick, Raines said.

Flu and fever were cited as the main reasons for the absences.

"Our goal was to separate for consecutive days,” Raines said, “in an effort for proper care and wellness for those who were sick and to keep others from becoming susceptible to any of the three illnesses we were currently battling.