WINDHAM – School officials will be closely watching this morning's attendance rolls at the middle school after about a third of the student population called in sick Monday, many complaining of flu-like symptoms.

School officials have been in contact with the state since learning of the spike in absences, said Frank Bass, superintendent of schools. About 200 students missed class Monday with about half that number reporting a flu-like illness, he said.

"We're watching it very carefully," Bass said. "Many of the kids contracted their bout with the flu late last week. ... We're not going to be in a position to know what we're looking at until Wednesday morning."

If the number of absent students remains unusually high officials will meet to discuss their next move, including the possibility of closing the school, said School Board Chairman Bruce Anderson. Any such decision would be made jointly with administrators and state officials, he said.

Windham Middle School wasn't the only school hit by low attendance on Monday, Anderson said. Roughly 13 percent missed classes at Center School and 16 percent were out at Golden Brook School. At the high school, absences were at 8 percent, but that's normal this time of year, he said.

Teachers also were calling in sick on Monday. In some schools as many as six or seven were out. The district was able to find substitutes to make up for the losses, Bass said.

Schools were closed yesterday for a teacher workshop. Officials took advantage of the opportunity by disinfecting desks and chairs, as well as water fountains, sinks and bathroom doors, Bass said. Desks were spread out in classrooms to minimize close contact among students to prevent spread of the virus, he said.

The scheduled day off from classes also may have encouraged parents to keep children home on Monday to prevent them from catching the illness, increasing the number of absences, Anderson said.

So far this year, the flu seems to run its course in about three or four days, he said. Anderson believes many are possible cases of H1N1, though the presence of "swine flu" has not been confirmed.

At this point any cluster of flu cases is considered H1N1, said Marcella Bobinsky, of the New Hampshire Immunization Program. As the state tests flu patients, H1N1 always seems to be the cause, she said.

"Generally, we know it's probably H1N1," Bobinsky said. "It's widespread not only in New Hampshire but throughout the entire country. If you're feeling rotten and you've got the fever and if it happens not to be H1N1, we still want you to take care of yourself. ... It would be the same if it was H1N1 or not."

School officials ask parents of students suffering from flu-like symptoms to keep their children home for a full day after fever has subsided.

Whether the district will close schools because of the flu will be considered by state and local officials today, Anderson said.

"Obviously, if it drops and our absentee rate is 12 percent or 13 percent, we're not going to do anything," he said. "I can't speculate on what percentage of absenteeism we would have to see to close the school. I can guarantee you if by 9:30 a.m. it's high there will be a discussion."