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According to Fort Dale Academy Headmaster David Brantley, school will be closed Friday and Monday in hopes of decreasing the possibility of spreading the flu virus, which has been widespread throughout the private school over the past week.

“The number of absences due to the flu has been significant all week,” he said. “After checking the numbers each day and consulting with health care professionals, it has been decided that we will close school tomorrow (Friday) and Monday. We will return to school on Tuesday morning. This closure encompassing the weekend will allow four full days to hopefully aid students in being able to recover and return to school.”

Brantley added that tomorrow night’s basketball games at Escambia Academy will be moved to Monday night with the junior varsity boys tipping off at 5 p.m. The varsity girls and varsity boys’ games will follow. Saturday’s peewee games will be postponed until further notice.

In addition, the nine students participating in tomorrow’s state science fair will attend as scheduled.

“This has been a difficult week in deciding how best to handle this flu crisis,” Brantley concluded. “It is my hope this four-day period will help us to recover more quickly.”

If parents have any questions, Brantley said that they may call the school at (334) 382-2606.