WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - More than 80 teachers have called in sick at Warwick schools after the school superintendent told parents he received reports that a sickout was planned to protest stalled contract negotiations.
Superintendent Philip Thornton said schools were in session Thursday morning despite 83 teachers being out. He said the number of sick calls was not enough to warrant canceling school.
Thornton said that on an average day, about 60 teachers within the district’s 21 schools would be out sick.
Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoh said talk of a sickout were just rumors. She said the union did not pressure any teachers to call in sick.
The teachers have been working under an expired contract since August 2015.
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