On Wednesday, so many Detroit Public School teachers called in sick it forced the district to close 88 schools.
So who are the teachers who did not call in? 7 Action News spoke to two of them on their lunch break from a day working at a closed school.They say they didn't call in because they have used up all their sick days.
"I have had family emergencies," said Kelly Landin.
"If I had my sick days I would be standing right them," said Stephanie Moyski.
Both were upset to see a letter from the district demanding all staff who didn't call in, show up, even though schools were closed.
"It is the district cutting off its nose to spite its face. It is fiscal incompetence," said Landin.
She is paid a straight salary for a certain number of days of work. She says she believes the district will have to pay her extra to show up for extra days at the end of the school year because the school was closed and she still had to work.
Both say they are protesting in spirit.
They see a lack of needed supplies, overcrowded classroom, kids not getting the state mandated instruction hours due to a teacher shortage, resulting academic failure, and building maintenance standards below what you see in other districts.
"I have 42 kids in one class," said Landin. "36 desks."
Landin and Moyski say they are fortunate to work in a new building with a dedicated principal. They know there are older buildings that are so ignored they are dangerous. Still, even their new building shows signs of neglect by the administration.
"There is a window busted by a bullet two years ago. It hasn't been fixed," said Moyski.
They acknowledge the building is secure, despite the shattered glass. They just say it is a reminder of violence that kids in the suburbs don't walk by at their schools.
The district says it is facing bankruptcy if something doesn't change before April. It has filed a request for an injunction to stop the sick-outs.
The district says teachers need to be in class so kids can get the education they deserve.
