The illness bug is wreaking havoc on the Eureka Springs School District.

Cases of flu, strep throat, and at least one diagnosis of COVID-19, have forced many students to miss classes in recent days.

The elementary school has been hit the hardest with 40 percent of students and seven staff members staying home on Wednesday, Feb. 11, according to superintendent Bryan Pruitt.

“We’re trying to stay healthy,” Pruitt said.

The district has seen a big influx in Type B flu, Pruitt said, along with cases of strep throat and one case of COVID-19.

While the entire district has been affected, the elementary school has been hit the hardest as nearly half of the students and staff have had to stay at home in recent days, the superintendent said.

“We’ve been setting off the fog bombs and our maintenance and custodial staff have been diligent, wiping, disinfecting and cleaning,” Pruitt said. “Our elementary school is where our big hit has been. Our middle school and high school really haven’t been faced with it much, but those little ones have took a hit, especially with the flu bug.”

Many elementary student had previously gotten a flu shot, Pruitt said.

“It’s just ironic this time that it seems like it’s contained to one building,” he said. “I do think we are on the downhill side of it.

“We’re just trying to be as germ-free as much as possible, and of course we have so much more resources available, too, since COVID. We’ve got foggers and bombs, things to clean and disinfect with. I could call classes off and send everybody home, but then folks are mad when they have to make the day up, so it’s a no-win scenario.”

Pruitt said it was important for the community to be aware of the steps the district is taking to make sure district buildings are disinfected daily.

“We take this very seriously,” he said. “We want to take care of the kids, and it’s a tough decision, when sickness comes in, whether you make everybody stay home.”

The highlight of the school board’s regular monthly meeting held Monday, Feb. 9, was the approval of an average 4 percent raise for all certified staff.

“It is going to cost us some money, around $177,000 to do this, but we are happy we are able to reward them and do this,” Pruitt said.