Classes across Ganado ISD screeched to a halt Friday after more than 90 elementary students either missed school or were sent home sick with a stomach bug, district officials said. The surprise one-day shutdown is being used to thoroughly sanitize classrooms and common areas ahead of the final week of classes. District leaders apologized for the short notice and urged families to watch for symptoms and keep children home if they are not feeling well.
In a social media update, the district said the spike in illnesses began Wednesday and ultimately affected more than 90 Ganado Elementary students. During the closure, officials said classrooms and other facilities would get “thorough sanitization and cleaning.” The district again apologized to parents for the late disruption and noted that its calendar includes emergency closure days to help handle outbreaks, according to Click2Houston.
Superintendent Jonathan Szymanski told Eyewitness News he decided to close schools so the stomach bug could run its course and so staff could deep clean classrooms ahead of finals, ABC13 reported. The station said the illnesses represented roughly a quarter of the elementary campus enrollment.
Small district, big disruption
Ganado ISD serves about 728 students across three campuses, elementary, junior high and high school, according to the Texas Tribune. District documents put the elementary enrollment in the low 300s, which means more than 90 reported illnesses hit a sizable slice of that campus and pack an outsized punch for a district this small.
Public health context
Outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhea in schools are often caused by highly contagious viruses such as norovirus, and public health guidance emphasizes fast reporting, keeping sick students and staff at home and stepped-up disinfection. The CDC says schools may require specialized cleaning during an outbreak and should coordinate with state or local health authorities on next steps and how long people should stay out.
Other recent campus closures
Ganado is not alone in hitting the pause button when stomach bugs rip through a campus. In 2023 Clear Creek ISD closed Hyde Elementary after more than 100 students and staff fell ill with gastrointestinal symptoms, as reported by Houston Public Media, and a Fort Worth middle school closed in March amid a norovirus-like wave reported by Hoodline.
What families should do
Parents are being urged to watch for vomiting, diarrhea or fever and to keep symptomatic children home, contacting the school nurse for guidance. Ganado ISD posts updates on its website and social channels and can be reached through its district office for specific questions, per Ganado ISD.
The district said it expects to reopen Monday and will continue to monitor absentee numbers as students return. Officials said they will notify families about any changes, and parents looking for the latest information are encouraged to check district communications and local news outlets. Click2Houston has the district’s initial announcement.
