Several Kansas school districts have announced an early start to winter break as a surge in flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses has led to record levels of student and staff absences.
District officials from across the state, including in Wichita, Topeka, and Salina, confirmed this week that they will close schools earlier than planned due to widespread illness disrupting classroom operations. Many schools have reported attendance rates dropping below 80%, with some classes left without available substitutes. Administrators say the break will give families time to recover and prevent further spread of illness during the final days before the holidays.
Massive Wave of Illnesses
"Our schools are experiencing unusually high rates of illness among both students and staff," said Jennifer Thompson, spokesperson for the Wichita Public Schools. "The best option at this point is to begin winter break early to ensure everyone gets the rest and care they need," according to NBC News.
The early closure decisions vary by district. Wichita Public Schools will begin winter break on Friday, December 19, four days earlier than scheduled. Topeka Public Schools will close starting December 20, while Salina and Lawrence districts have set December 21 as their final in-person day. All are expected to resume classes after the New Year on their normal return dates in early January.
Kansas health officials say the timing aligns with a statewide increase in respiratory infections that has stressed local clinics and urgent care centers. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, hospital visits for flu-like symptoms have doubled since late November. Pediatric cases are also up significantly, particularly in central and eastern Kansas.
Medical experts say that while none of the outbreaks appear unique to a particular virus, the combination of influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 strains has created a challenging environment for schools. "This is what we call a perfect storm of winter illnesses," said Dr. Michael Reyes, a public health specialist in Topeka. "Families need to practice good hygiene, stay home when sick, and consider wearing masks in crowded indoor settings."
Early Winter Break
Some districts have also paused after-school programs, holiday events, and extracurricular activities to minimize contact and allow custodial crews additional time for deep cleaning, People reported. Teachers have been encouraged to prepare optional review materials for students who want to stay academically engaged during the break.
Parents have expressed understanding and relief about the early break, noting that many children have already missed multiple days due to illness. Others, however, have raised concerns about the sudden schedule change creating childcare challenges for working families. Community centers and local churches in several towns have stepped in to offer temporary childcare or youth activities to help fill the gap.
District leaders say they hope the extended time off will help stabilize health conditions and allow students to return to the classroom healthy and ready to learn in January. Public health officials continue to urge vaccination, handwashing, and rest as the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness this winter, as per the Immunize Kansas Coalition.
