DeKalb County Schools have been closed tomorrow (Feb. 10), and Monday (Feb. 13), because of a high rate of absentees system wide, apparently caused by sickness.

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps told the Review that the absentee rate doubled in the county in one day this week.

“We have a total of approximately 3,000 students enrolled, and as of 1 p.m. today (Thursday) we were running about 14.5 percent absent,” Cripps said. “We talked to someone at the state department of education, and we were told that some schools start looking at closing at about 12 percent. Yesterday our absentee rate was at 7.6 percent. It almost doubled in one day. We thought that once we hit that threshold that it was time. We hope we can head it off. The custodians will be working hard disinfecting classrooms and doorknobs and other high-traffic areas.”