UPDATED 1:15 P.M. Jan. 13, 2022:

Eudora Public Schools will cancel all classes Friday due to an increasing number of COVID cases and a shortage of substitute teachers, the district announced Thursday afternoon.

“Our current reality is that we simply do not have enough substitutes to appropriately maintain operations,” Eudora Superintendent Stu Moeckel said in an email to district families.

Moeckel’s message didn’t provide details on the number of positive cases present in the Eudora school system, but he said an increased number of cases among students and staff played a role in the decision to cancel classes and all activities on Friday.

Moeckel asked for “grace as we work to problem-solve this challenge,” and urged students and families to be cognizant of the COVID dangers.

“We implore you to help over the long weekend by exercising best mitigation practices,” Moeckel said. “Together we will overcome this.”

Meanwhile, in Lawrence, the largest school district in Douglas County, schools do not appear to be facing closures. District spokeswoman Julie Boyle on Thursday said the district continues to monitor the situation but has not yet had any discussions about closing schools.

During a school board meeting on Monday, Superintendent Anthony Lewis said more than 100 teachers had been absent each of the first three days of school after returning from winter break, but the district had a more than 80% substitute fill rate each of those days.