Schools are closed Thursday through Monday in DeKalb County as administers hope to break the cycle of sickness which was sweeping through the system.

"We were seeing rates of around 10 percent," said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps of what triggered the decision to close schools, noting the number is about double the normal abesentee rate. "It just wasn't getting any better."

Topping the list of ailments that led to the decision were stains of A and B flu, strep throat and gastronomic issues. Hardest hit were the lower grades and particularly West School. The outbreak, administrators say, was not limited to just students as teachers, support personnel and bus drivers were being afflicted. The illness was then in turn taken home and spread to families and friends. School leaders are hopeful the three days and the two day weekend will be enough to break the cycle.

If it does not, schools will have just two days left on the calendar for misses. After that point time will likely have to be added to the end of the year as Spring Break will be coming up just a week later. Director  Cripps said last year, after cancellation of schools for illness that he is averse to chiseling away at Spring Break to make up days as many families have booked vacations way in advance and cutting into that break could cause issues for a great number of DeKalb County families.

As an offshoot of the cancellation of schools, scheduled parent-teacher conferences set for March 14 have been put off until March 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. at all local schools except the high school.

Athletic events will go on as scheduled, weather permitting.