Public radio from Western Michigan University 102.1 NPR News | 89.9 Classical WMUK
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

GOP Leaders Say Teacher Sickout Doesn't Help DPS Rescue Package

MPRN

(MPRN-Lansing) Republican leaders in Lansing had some harsh words Monday for teachers who virtually shut down the Detroit school district with a “sickout.” That’s after they were told they could soon be facing payless paydays. 

Teachers who spread their paychecks through the summer could see their paychecks stop after June 30th. State lawmakers approved emergency money to get the district through that date, but not beyond. That was supposed to buy lawmakers time to work on a larger-scale solution.

House Republican spokesman Gideon D’Assandrosays the “sickout” doesn’t help that effort.

“This casts a lot of doubt on the ability of the district to manage itself and to get itself back up and running.”

The protest closed 90 schools and idled 40 thousand students as a state House committee is about to hold its first hearing on a $700-million bailout plan.

Related Content