TUSCUMBIA, Ala. — More than a third of the entire student body of a Shoals-area high school was absent from classes on Wednesday. However, classes resumed this week without much change to the operating schedule.
Colbert Heights High School posted to social media on Wednesday that nearly 35% of students were absent that day. School officials blamed "various student illnesses" for the high number of absentees. They asked parents that if a child was sick or exhibiting any symptoms of illness to keep the child home from school.
It is exam time in schools across North Alabama, but Colbert Heights assured parents that absences recorded on Dec. 7 and 8 will not count against students or their exam exemptions. Absences directly related to sickness recorded between Dec. 4 and 8 will also not count against students or exemptions.
School continued to operate as normal, with bus routes and cafeteria service uninterrupted or rescheduled.
"The Superintendent's office has reached out to all schools in the district and they are evaluating all school numbers and will continue to monitor the situation," school officials said in their statement.
