Lake Country School in the Village of Hartland is closing its doors Wednesday, after more than 100 students and teachers were out sick Tuesday.
Some of the healthy students said it was strange to be in class with almost half the desks empty.
"It's weird," 4th grader Charlotte Leitermann said.
"We wash our hands and stuff," 4th grader Daisy Leitermann said.
After consulting with the health department Tuesday afternoon, the district let parents know Lake Country School will close Wednesday so cleaners can disinfect the building.
"I'm all for it because I don't want to get sick. I don't want the kids to get sick. Teachers are getting sick and it seems like it's spreading. I just think it's a great idea," Kim Leitermann said.
School leaders said it was a difficult decision to cancel class. They said most parents were understanding, but they understand it's an inconvenience for some.
"Never in my 19 years have I closed school due to illness," District Administrator Mark Licht said.
The district administrator said Monday and Tuesday students and teachers were home with high fevers and some with strep.
"The lower primary grades are really being hit hard so we want to get ahead of it if we can," Licht said.
1st, 2nd and 4th grades had the most students out sick. Out of the 502 students in kindergarten through 8th grade, 122 stayed home or went home sick Tuesday.
"Four kids started to turn green and go home right there and when it's something spreading that quickly you want to be proactive to get it under control," School Board President Dr. Andrea Shrednick said.
A handful of staff members called out sick. Teachers who were at school had a tough time moving forward with their syllabus with so many absent students.
"Hopefully by Thursday kids will be recovered and we'll be not passing it back and forth," Shrednick said.
Field trips and after school activities are cancelled Wednesday.
The school plans to re-open the building Thursday.
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