Schools across the region have fewer students in class than they did last month.

Many schools are reporting more students and teachers than usual are out sick with the flu, or at least a flu-like illness.

Hampstead Central School had twice as many students out as usual Monday — with about 10 percent of the school population out due to illness.

Teachers are being hit, too. There was only one day last week when all 25 classroom teachers were at school, according to Central School Principal Dillard Collins.

In Londonderry, about 18 percent of South Elementary School students were absent yesterday, according to Principal Linda Boyd.

School officials in Windham were concerned they would have to close the middle school after 200 students were absent Monday.

Teaching when so many students are absent can be a challenge. The pace of lessons can be slowed when one-third to half of the class is absent, Boyd said.

"It's kind of inefficient to reteach the material," she said.

But in most cases, that's what is going to happen.

Nate Greenberg, Londonderry's superintendent, said teachers are adjusting their material as much as they can. But in some cases, there aren't many options.

"You have to figure out what to teach today and what you can hold off a couple of days," Collins said.

The Hampstead principal said school officials would prefer to have sick students stay home rather than come to school and infect other students.

The state Department of Health and Human Services is telling school districts across the state to remain open to provide normalcy to the community despite the widespread flu.

Marcella Bobinsky of DHHS said having enough teachers in school is more of an issue than absent students.

"Sometimes you have to get very creative," she said.

But not all schools are struggling to keep students in school.

Adam Pagliarulo, principal of William E. Lancaster Memorial School in Salem, said only 18 students were absent yesterday.

Overall, Salem has had fewer students absent than other school districts in the area, according to Janice Wilkins, principal at North Salem Elementary School.

"Right now, our instruction is going on," Wilkins said.

Officials in Salem and other schools in the region said they are doing their best to keep students healthy.

Boyd said their students wash their hands at least twice a day and are taught basic things to do to stay healthy.

All schools are following the state's advice to keep students home until 24 hours after the last sign of a fever.

"It's a battle that school districts all over the country are facing," Greenberg said.

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