12 News has learned Newton Independent School District will close its elementary school for the remainder of the week because of high flu-related absenteeism.

Tuesday's announcement comes on the heels of a similar announcement Monday, when officials closed the high school as they sanitized for the flu.

Administrators decided to close the high school Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday of this week because of excessive absences due to the flu.

According to a press release from the Newton School District, 24 percent of the student body was absent from school Monday. The high school is expected to resume Friday, October 2, with the elementary school to return Monday.

The school's football team has a bye this week in varsity football.

12 News Reporter Liz McKernan has more on what the school and some of it's students are doing on their days off.

Its not a normal Tuesday afternoon for high-school freshman Chris Harper.

"I feel like I'm on vacation! Just hangin out with my friends and having fun" said Harper.

Like his 300 other schoolmates, Harper is staying home for the next three days while Newton High School is sanitized and a quarter of the student body recovers from flu-like symptoms.

"There's about twenty or thirty of my friends sick that were all out on Monday" said Harper.

Superintendent Sherrie Leach told 12 News that custodians are sanitizing the high school, and plan on setting off flu bombs by the end of the week inside the building to fumigate the area and further sanitize the school before students come back to class.

"If they have to be home, they have to be home. I wouldn't want them to be out with a lot of sickness, and I'm sure a lot of other parents feel the same way" said Chris Harper's dad Kenneth Forward.

Forward hasn't had to change his schedule because of the closure, but does plan on taking his son to a local health clinic.

"I'm taking him down to the clinic for a physical, and I'm quite sure he'll get a flu vaccine then" said Forward.

For the next three days, Chris has plans of his own.

"I'm going to the skating rink, I might play video games for the rest of the week too, go to my friend's house, and maybe study for some tests" said Harper.

But he still hopes his friends who are still out sick are ready to go back to school by Friday.

"Get well Brenton! And all my other friends, just have fun while you're off, or get well while you're off" said Harper.

Newton Middle School will remain open until further notice according to the school district's website. Officials are advising parents to keep students with fever at home and seek medical attention.