Students are returning to Clarkdale schools after hundreds were absent during a flu outbreak last week.  

On Friday, 383 students were absent, with some out due to illness, while others being kept at home by their parents. 

On Monday, 143 students were out due to the flu or another illness, and on Tuesday, that number dropped to 123, according to Ken Hardy, principal of Clarkdale High School. The school usually sees about 90 or 95 student absences a day this time of the school year, Hardy said.

“We are slowly making progress,” Hardy said.

An outside cleaning team spent the weekend disinfecting the school, and school staff will continue to practice good hygiene, even thought the numbers have improved, Hardy said.

He also encouraged parents to keep children at home if they are sick.