A special needs school in DeKalb County has closed for the rest of the week after nearly half of its students and six staff members complained of flu-like symptoms.

Julie Ramm, a spokeswoman for the DeKalb County district, says 23 of Margaret Harris Comprehensive School’s 50 students were out sick. Five of the school’s staff members, including principal Cheryl Rhodes, were also reported ill.

Ramm says one child was hospitalized.

She says parents were notified of the closure in a letter sent home at the end of the school day Wednesday. The school will re-open on Monday.

Ramm says the district will take the next couple of days to sanitize the building.

___