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Illness forces Perry County Head Start to close for 3 days

Perry County Head Start has been struck by illness, forcing it to close for three days this week.

"We got hit by the flu," said Lauri Koen, interim director of Head Start for Monroe, Randolph and Perry counties.

The Head Start at 3747 Hitt Road in Tamaroa will reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 18, after the Presidents Day holiday on Monday, Coen said.

It was closed this week on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

"We were going to open today because we got two teachers back, but then two other teachers got sick this morning," Coen said Thursday. She said a few children have been sick as well.

The Perry County program has 15 staff members and five classrooms. Head Start requires each room to have two staffers at all times. The center also has kitchen staff and bus staff.

Perry County Head Start primarily caters to low-income children ages 3-5 and their families, offering education and enrichment for children whose families cannot afford preschool, and who need referrals for medical and dental care, housing, food and other resources.

The Perry County program has half-day classes and is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday, from mid-August to April 30.

A second Head Start program in Perry County is a full-day program in Pinckneyville that is open year round.