Half of students at Billings school call in sick

BILLINGS — Nearly half of the 460 or so students at a Billings elementary school called in sick Friday as health officials continue to investigate what is making them ill.

Billings School District 2 Superintendent Keith Beeman says he doesn't think all 230 Beartooth Elementary students who stayed home were sick, but were kept away from the school by their parents as a precaution. Up to 100 students went home sick Thursday.

Beeman says an inspection of the school kitchen Thursday didn't reveal any problems.

Meanwhile, city and county health officials are trying to determine what is causing the illness, which includes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Barbara Schneeman, a spokeswoman for the health department, says officials are collecting stool samples to be sent to a lab in Helena.