FAIRPLAY, Colo. -- The flu and other illnesses forced the closure of schools in Pueblo, Fairplay and La Junta this week.

All schools in Fairplay will be closed through Friday.

The affected Park County schools are Edith Teter Preschool and Elementary School, Silverheels Middle School and South Park High School. They are all on the Fairplay campus and are right next door to one another.

The district said 55 out of 130 high school students were out sick on Monday and 84 out of 220 elementary students have been absent. Eighteen of the 44 teachers and staff members were also out sick on Monday.

"We couldn't cover classes Monday because we had so many staff absent," said superintendent Charles Soper. "We had to cancel classes and combine classes."

Even Soper came down with an illness.

"It's a killer. It's sore throat, fever, sweats," said Soper. "For me, it lasted about a week-and-a-half."

Around town, word of the situation at the schools has people playing it safe.

"I'm 19 weeks pregnant so I'm trying to avoid sick people and wash my hands. And I'm trying to eat healthy and take my supplements," said Kerrie Lynn, who lives in Fairplay.

"We'll have the school completely cleaned and sanitized. By Monday we'll be spic and span and ready to roll," said Soper.

The Park County RE-2 district has about 420 students enrolled.

Soper said it wasn't just the H1N1 flu, students have also been afflicted with the seasonal flu, strep throat, pneumonia and bronchitis.

All extracurricular and athletic activities scheduled for the week were also canceled and will be rescheduled.

The schools will reopen on Monday, allowing custodians to clean and sanitize all of the school buildings and especially common surfaces such as doorknobs, rails, water fountains, tables and desks.

Additionally, the public forums regarding new school facilities scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday were canceled and may be rescheduled. The RE-2 school board meeting in Guffey, Colo., scheduled for Wednesday night, was also canceled and will be rescheduled.

Fairplay is the home of the fictional "South Park" cartoon series on Comedy Central Network, featuring school students.

In Pueblo, about a third of the students at Cesar Chavez Academy reported flu-like illness, prompting a three-day closure. The school reopened on Tuesday.

However, Pueblo School District 70 is closing two schools -- Southern Colorado Early College and Swallows Charter Academy -- because many students are showing flu-like symptoms.

East Otero School District R-1 officials said Tuesday they are closing schools the rest of the week to try to slow or stop the spread of flu. In a letter to parents, Superintendent Jim Sullivan said the district has seen a spike in the number students and staff showing flulike symptoms. Classes are set to resume Monday.