2 districts cancel school; teachers likely going to protest - FOX 35 News Orlando

By Alexis Wiley
Fox 2 News

WARREN, Mich. (WJBK) -- A Warren high school will be dark Tuesday because the district is canceling classes.  It's the same story in Taylor.  This issue?  Not enough teachers are coming into work.  Many of them are most likely headed to Lansing to protest.

"My daughter actually called me right when she got out of school at three o'clock today and they were thrilled," said Carol Stevens.

"I understand their position, but this is a bad move.  It's a bad move politically," said "Dale", a Warren father.

Warren Consolidated Schools is treating Tuesday like a snow day, but snow isn't what is canceling classes.  It's the lack of teachers.

"The school denied having any knowledge that the teachers were going to protest.  They say well there's been massive sick out.  We don't know what the teachers are doing," Dale said.

Thousands are expected to descend on the state Capitol Tuesday to protest the explosive right-to-work bill.  Teachers' unions are urging their members to join them in Lansing and it appears teachers in Warren and Taylor are heading the call.

However, Stevens said canceling a day of school could have a negative impact on her son.

"My son had a diving meet tomorrow and they're not having it now.  I don't know how they're going to reschedule it," she said.

"Show the parents and the legislators and the politicians that you are serious about the children's education, that you're committed to the children, that you're not in it just for a paycheck," said Dale.

However, many teachers say that is exactly what they're trying to do.

"I'm for the teachers, so if the teachers need to do this, I'm a teacher myself, so they need to do it," Stevens said.