Another Teacher 'Sick-Out' Forces 2 Detroit High Schools To Close Thursday
DETROIT (WWJ) - Teachers in Detroit have apparently organized another "sick-out," this time canceling classes at two large schools.
DPS officials confirmed that too many teachers at Renaissance High School and Martin Luther King High School "have chosen not to come to work" Thursday, so administrators had "no choice" but to close the schools and "interrupt students' education."
About 1,200 students attend Renaissance High School and nearly 1,600 students attend King High School.
"Parents and the community should be outraged at this blatant disregard for the importance of our students' academic achievement, as well as at them being made pawns in this political argument," DPS Spokesperson Michelle Zdrodowski said in a statement.
Victor Wright was among parents trying to drop their kids off at Renaissance High, though he didn't seem too frustrated by the situation.
"I didn't know they were closed today but, well, she's got a big smile on her face so that may be great for her, but she's got some homework to do at home now," Wright said, pointing to his daughter Victoria.
"I'm actually a little happy because I get to go home and get a lot of work done and study some more," Victoria said. "I've got seven classes so I've got to hurry up and knock it out so I can do good."
Earlier this week, Cass Tech High School was closed for the same reason. There, teachers said they wanted to see money returned from Lansing to DPS following years of state oversight.
Teachers for weeks have been organizing these sick-outs at schools across the district as a way to protest a number of grievances — including Governor Rick Snyder's plans to split DPS into two separate districts.
Zdrodowski has said the district doesn't disagree with the teachers' right to protest. However, the problem arises "when these protests take away instructional time from our students."
"To deny students their opportunity to learn in the interest of making a political statement should go against every principle a teacher holds important, and sends a terrible message to the very students to whom they are supposed to serve as role models," Zdrodowski said in a statement. "Students should not be taught that it's OK to shirk their responsibilities, which is the message the teachers who call in sick – without truly being sick – are sending to their students."
Snyder's plan, outlined in April, calls for an "old" and "new" district — one to pay off $715 million in operating debt and the other to operate schools he says are in academic crisis.
The new Detroit Community School District would handle academic operations, payroll, health care, employee contracts and computers. The current Detroit Public Schools would remain intact for tax-collection purposes and to retire the debt.
A Detroit Education Commission – with three gubernatorial appointees and two mayoral appointees – would hire a chief education officer to craft accountability, facilities and enrollment plans. The commission could reorganize or close low-performing traditional and charter schools.
The new district's board initially would governed by gubernatorial and mayoral appointees, transitioning to a fully elected board in 2021.
The Detroit Public Schools have been under state oversight since 2009.
