"To prevent the spread:" Lake Country School in Hartland CLOSED Wednesday, March 1 due to illness



HARTLAND -- Lake Country School in Hartland will be CLOSED on Wednesday, March 1st due to an increasing number of children becoming ill over the past two days. Officials are shutting down the school so it can be cleaned, and so kids can recover.

All classes and other activities are canceled for Wednesday. Employees will be working to disinfect the school.

School officials said more than 20 percent of the students and 25 percent of the staff have been absent. They've also seen several cases of strep throat.

Will Schneidwent



"We only had 12 people in our class and five people were gone," Will Schneidwent, a third grader said. "Kind of lonely. It's like the zombie apocalypse happening."

"One class had five students (Monday). Second (grade) is hit really hard, about 46 percent. Fourth grade is hit. Second grade is hit.  Kindergarten is hit," Mark Lichte, district administrator said.

According to a letter sent out to parents, after conferring with Waukesha County officials, the medical director, and several parents, school officials decided to spend the day on Wednesday disinfecting the building.

Lake Country School in Hartland



The closure includes all after school activities including the YMCA program. All field trips have been canceled also.

"As you know, when you have 500 youngsters, there is going to be germs, and I think that is reason we had to shut it down for the day," Lichte said.

Lake Country School in Hartland



"It's very, very important for your own child's health, and to prevent the spread to others that they stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours," Cindy Barfknecht with the Waukesha County Health Department said.

Lake Country School in Hartland



Health officials stress the flu season is not over, and it's NOT too late to get your flu shot.

"The flu shot this year has been proven to be very effective, so I would encourage them to get their flu shot," Barfknecht said.

School will be back in session on Thursday, March 2nd -- although a field trip to Chicago for the second grade is up in the air at this point.