KENT COUNTY, Mich. (WZZM) - The Marquez family has their work cut out for the them.
"We have disinfect the whole school, working room by room. Especially the bathrooms, the classrooms," said Basti Marquez, who works as a part-time custodian with her husband at Millbrook Christian School, where every surface will be cleaned while students stay home.
"It's just necessary to stop the spread [of sickness]," said Principal Mark Krommendyke.
Krommendyke says 32 percent of his student population is sick.
"Last Wednesday we had three kids call in sick, Thursday [it was] 11, Friday, 22, and [Monday] morning we were up to 78 when we started worrying about what we should do," he explained.
Administrators decided to close Millbrook Tuesday and Wednesday. Students will also stay home Thursday and Friday due to scheduled teacher planning days.
Ada Christian School is also closed through Wednesday. All Saranac Community schools are closed through Thursday. Superintendent Janette Adams says 265 of their 1,156 students called out sick this morning.
"It's just your regular standard flu virus, and we just have a lot of it," said Krommendyke.
A letter circulated to parents requests that kids stay home even if they are not sick.
"I also know how inconvenient that can be for parents too," said Jennifer Gray, who is the Director of Orchard Hill Learning Center.
Like many day care providers, Gray accommodates kids on an as needed basis, and strongly suggests pre-registration, just in case.
"For snow days, vacation days from school, now these sick days seem to be popping up more and more. We do allow that as long as the children aren't showing any symptoms of illness."
Orchard Hill takes its own precautions during cold and flu season, with industrial strength dishwashers and sprays for toys and surfaces. Back at Millbrook, the Marquez family will do the same.
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