OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — A wave of illness is sweeping through Oklahoma schools, leading to significant absentee rates among both students and teachers. According to Weather Watch Oklahoma, some schools have reported 20% to 30% absenteeism this week as sickness continues to spread rapidly across classrooms.
School districts across the state are monitoring the situation closely as absences climb higher than normal for this time of year. Officials say the illnesses appear to be a mix of respiratory viruses, flu, and stomach-related infections, though no single outbreak has been formally identified.
Absences Impacting Classrooms Across the State
Local educators say that the surge in sickness is beginning to affect daily school operations, from lesson plans to extracurricular activities. Substitute teachers are being called in to fill gaps, while some schools have temporarily scaled back group programs to help reduce exposure.
“We’ve seen a noticeable uptick in students and teachers staying home sick this week,” one Oklahoma school administrator said. “It’s affecting learning environments, but we’re encouraging everyone to rest and recover before returning.”…