Lewisville ISD Closed

Craig Civale reports

More WFAA Latest News video

• View larger
• E-mail clip
• More video

Related links:

• LINK: Lewisville ISD
• LINK: Ponder ISD
• LIST: Latest closings
• MORE: WFAA Swine Flu Information Center

Search Video:

LEWISVILLE — Lewisville and Ponder are joining other area school districts that are closing due to the swine flu threat.

Denton County has three probable cases and one confirmed case of the flu, officials said Friday afternoon. A probable case, reported this afternoon, is still being investigated.

All 63 schools in Lewisville ISD will be closed for seven days, and its 50,000 students are being asked to stay at home. All school and social activities, including proms, are also on hold. The district has confirmed one case of swine flu, three probable cases, and 11 that tested positive for type A flu virus.

School officials said they will use the time to disinfect classrooms and buses, a logistical nightmare.

"It was a tough decision," said LISD board president Carol Kyer. "I was hoping; I was really praying we wouldn't get another probable. We have proms scheduled, we have end-of-year banquets, we have an employee banquet next Friday that 1,400 people go to, and we have a lot of stuff this upcoming week because it's near the end of school."

Parents have mixed feelings about an unexpected week of free time for their youngsters. "Whatever it takes to keep the kids safe is, I think, the best course of action," said Buddy Kornegay as he picked up his son from school.

But Debbie Becker disagrees. "I personally think they're just kind of overdoing it," she said. "I think it's a little bit of overkill."

There are no probable or confirmed cases linked to the Ponder ISD closure.

However, PISD and the Denton County Health Department agreed that school closures were necessary because of the district's small size and the number of positive flu A tests.

Officials are recommending that large community or group events be canceled or postponed for the duration of the H1N1 flu threat.

E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com