A Christian school in Anderson is using the state’s e-learning option to close for two days this week because of the number of students and teachers sick with the flu.  IPR’s Stephanie Wiechmann reports.

On Thursday and Friday, traditional classes for middle and high school aged students at Liberty Christian School will be cancelled.  Pre-kindergarten through 6^th graders will come to school as normal.

Liberty officials posted the closings on social media, as well as sent messages to parents. (LCS on Facebook)

In messages to parents online, Liberty superintendent Jay McCurry says about 20 percent of the school’s about 500 students and 50 percent of teachers are out sick with the flu.  He says the building will be sanitized while students are away.

State health officials say this year’s flu strain is particularly robust.  In the state health department’s weekly flu report last Friday, 167 flu deaths were reported around Indiana – with 31 new deaths reported just that week.

The Indiana State Department of Education says e-learning days are primarily used for bad weather or make-up days for bad weather, but can be used for other reasons.