Higher-than-normal absentee rates at Higley High School on Monday, especially among band students, has caused the postponement of two events this week as a precaution, according to a district official.
It’s unknown why an unusually high number of Higley High students didn’t go to the school on Monday, whether it’s from the flu or Monday doldrums. The Gilbert school didn’t have as many students out on Tuesday, said Sara Bresnahan, spokeswoman for the Higley Unified School District.
Higley High, which has about 1,200 students, had a 20-percent absentee rate on Monday, while 13 percent of students didn’t come to school on Tuesday, Bresnahan said.
“Given the higher incidence, the band director chose to postpone (the event),” Bresnahan said. “It just kind of makes sense to postpone these things so if there is a high absentee rate with the flu, then it could be helped from spreading further.”
The events postponed include a Higley High band and orchestra concert for Wednesday night, and a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Higley High’s football program planned for Thursday night.
The dinner was postponed because not enough tickets were sold, which was probably due to sick kids, Bresnahan said.
“We are seeing fluctuations across the district,” she said. “We have to believe some of it is related to the flu.”
The district is still urging parents to keep their children home if they are sick.
For more flu information, visit www.husd.org.
