School closes for cleaning after student illnesses

A West suburban elementary school closed for cleaning Thursday after nearly a third of the students were out sick the day before. Health officials say the children had gastrointestinal symptoms and it wasn't a flu outbreak.

Lyons School District Superintendent Mary Jo Vladika says Robinson Elementary will reopen Friday. Custodians have finished scrubbing down the school with water and bleach. About 80 students in the school of 260 were out sick Wednesday. Some teachers and support staff were absent too.

Cook County Department of Public Health spokeswoman Amy Poore-Terrell says the absences were not related to the flu, contrary to a message on the school district's website. Influenza symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat and fatigue. The health department recommended that the school close for a day for cleaning.