GENTRY — The following announcement from Randy Barrett, superintendent of Gentry Public Schools, concerning the closing of schools in Gentry on Friday was just received by the Eagle Observer:
Gentry Schools will be closed district-wide on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, due to an increasing number of student and staff absentees. School was already scheduled to be closed on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, for President's Day. Hopefully, this four-day separation period will break the cycle of what appears to be a flu outbreak.
Due to the reason we are missing (a day of student classes), and with the PPC, CPPC and (Gentry School) Board's approval, I will add this day to the end of the calendar rather than use any of the inclement weather makeup days on the calendar.
According to messages sent to School Board members, Barrett said 13 percent of Gentry's students were out today (Thursday), along with numerous staff members. He said the substitute teacher pool was also depleted.