BRIDPORT — Addison Central Supervisory Union Superintendent Gail Conley has decided to close Bridport Central School for the remainder of this week after most of the student body and several adults contracted a mysterious stomach ailment on Tuesday, March 6, and Wednesday, March 7.
Conley said roughly 75 percent of the school’s 80 students did not show up for class on the morning of Wednesday, March 6, after complaining of a stomach bug. More children became ill during the course of the day, prompting school officials to send those students home. By day’s end, 90 percent of the students were home sick, according to Conley.
This resulted in Conley cancelling classes for the balance of the week while contacting Vermont Department of Health officials to check out the building and determine if the illness might have been caused by food or environmental conditions within the school. Meanwhile, he said surfaces will be wiped down with disinfectants so that the building will be ready for students’ return on Monday, March 11.
Conley said the rash of illnesses was reported only at the Bridport school.