Most of Detroit’s Public Schools Close Amid Teacher Sick-Out

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Most of Detroit’s Public Schools Close Amid Teacher Sick-Out
In this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, Pam Barnes, right and Asher Huey, of the American Federation of Teachers, walk by some missing ceiling tiles while touring Osborn Collegiate Academy of Mathematics Science and Technology in Detroit, to look at some of the poor conditions that have prompted sickouts by Detroit Public School teachers.(Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Press via AP)
The Associated Press
1/20/2016
Updated:
1/20/2016

DETROIT—Most of Detroit’s public schools closed for the day on Wednesday due to teacher absences, as disgruntled educators stepped up efforts to protest the governor’s plans for the district, its ramshackle finances and dilapidated buildings.

Detroit Public Schools said more than 85 of its roughly 100 schools were shut. On Tuesday night, a group advocating for change at city schools known as Detroit Teachers Strike to Win warned of closures and said protests were planned Wednesday.

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On Tuesday night, Gov. Rick Snyder again pushed state lawmakers to pass bills to overhaul the school district by splitting it in two, spending more than $700 million over a decade, warning of a potential bankruptcy. Already, the district is run by an emergency manager appointed by the Republican governor.

In this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, peeling paint and plaster, damaged from a now fixed leaky roof, dangle above a hallway at Osborn Collegiate Academy of Mathematics Science and Technology in Detroit. Long-awaited legislation to overhaul Detroit's troubled school district by splitting it in two was introduced Thursday and could commit state lawmakers to spending up to $770 million over 11 years on the restructuring proposal that faces uncertainty in a bailout-averse Legislature. (Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Press via AP)
In this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, peeling paint and plaster, damaged from a now fixed leaky roof, dangle above a hallway at Osborn Collegiate Academy of Mathematics Science and Technology in Detroit. Long-awaited legislation to overhaul Detroit's troubled school district by splitting it in two was introduced Thursday and could commit state lawmakers to spending up to $770 million over 11 years on the restructuring proposal that faces uncertainty in a bailout-averse Legislature. (Romain Blanquart/Detroit Free Press via AP)

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The district said it has no choice but to close schools when teachers don’t report to work. It said those who don’t call in sick still were required to report to their buildings Wednesday.

Detroit has about 46,000 students. More than 60 schools were closed Jan. 11 because of an absence of teachers. Other sick-outs affecting a smaller number of schools have taken place. In response, city officials have started inspecting schools for possible code and safety violations.

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