TRAVERSE CITY -- More than a dozen students and several staff members are sick at a Traverse City school - and the school will be closed Friday because of it. 

The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District operates a special education program in one wing of the Traverse Heights Elementary School.  Over the past two days, 13 students and four staff members have either called in sick, or been sent home early with flu-like symptoms. The school has fewer than 50 students in the program, so more than 25% of the student population is affected.

TBA-ISD administrators are working with the county health department, but right now they do *not believe the students and staff are affected by the H1N1 virus - or the "swine flu." But the wing of the building will be thoroughly cleaned before students and staff are allowed to return. 

The closing does not affect other TCAPS students who attend Traverse Heights. Friday's closing affects the TBA-ISD wing of the building only. Administrators say they expect classes will be back in session on Monday.