Madison Schools Closed Thursday, Other Districts Closed

UPDATE: Budget Battle: Local Schools Close, Teachers Calling Out

Some major school districts in southern Wisconsin have closed their doors due to teachers calling out sick.

The Glendale/River Hills, Racine, Beaver Dam and Watertown School District announced that they are following the Madison Metropolitan School District in closing schools' doors on Thursday.

Rick Monroe, the superintendent of the Nicolet Union High School district, clarified that the high school is open, unlike Glendale and River Hills school district.

Port Washington High School also was to close at 9:00 a.m. due to a "sick-out."

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Madison school district teachers, those dedicated public employees, are going to be "sick" again on Thursday.

Apparently, the only cure for their "sickness" is demonstrating at the Capitol.

From NBC15:

From the Madison School District:

We have received reports Wednesday evening that there will again be significant staff absences in our district on Thursday in protest of Governor Walker’s proposed changes in labor law.

Due to substantial concerns about these absences in Madison, the Madison School District is forced to close all of our schools to students on Thursday, February 17, 2011.

We regret having to make this decision for a second consecutive day, but with the significant percentage of staff members expected to be absent on Thursday we can not assure the safety of all students. We realize this is difficult for families because it impacts family routines and schedules and we appreciate your flexibility during these difficult times.

All MMSD staff will be expected to report to work on Thursday.

We will continue to communicate with you on any new developments on this issue.

These not teachers are not being paid with tax dollars to protest.

Those unwilling to fulfill their duties as government employees need to be replaced.

They're accountable to us, the taxpayers.

Go to work.

Of course, even on days they do go to work, they manage to get their protesting in by taking their students with them.

From Daniel Halper, the Weekly Standard:

Teachers and students in Wisconsin are protesting Governor Scott Walker's budget bill. But it's not a mark of democracy: instead, teachers have been taking kids out of school to march on the Capitol in Madison. It's being called a "sickout" -- and it's illegal.

These teachers must be held accountable for this second straight day of "sickness."

"Teachers are joining protests planned today at the State Capitol," one witness to the protest said. "Yesterday, more than half of the student body of Madison East High School walked out with the support and assistance of their teachers."

Here's footage of the students in action (courtesy of the MacIver Institute):

This is education in Wisconsin public schools.

What a disgrace!

Madison isn't the only district closed on Thursday. Other school districts in the area are also being forced to close because of the sickness sweeping the public employees.

Here's the list:

Schools Closings/Delays
In alphabetical order:

Columbus Schools
Closed Thursday-Staff to Report-Private Open

De Forest Schools
Closed Thursday

Edgerton Schools
Closed Thursday-Staff Required To Report

Juda Schools
Closed Thursday

Lodi Schools
Closed Thursday - Staff Expected to Report

Madison Schools (Public)
Closed Thursday - Staff to Report

Marshall Schools
Closed Thursday - Staff Asked To Report

McFarland Schools
Closed Thursday

Middleton/Cross Plains Elementary
Public Schools Closed Thursday

Middleton/Cross Plains Middle and H.S.
Public Schools Closed Thursday

Monona Grove Schools
Closed Thursday-Staff Required To Report

Mount Horeb Schools
Closed Thursday-Staff Attendance Required

Oregon-Brooklyn Elementary
Closed Thursday-Staff To Report

Oregon-Brooklyn Middle and H.S.
Closed Thursday-Staff To Report

Reedsburg Schools
Public Schools Closed Thursday

River Valley Schools
Closed Thursday

Sauk Prairie Schools
Closed Thursday - Teachers Required to Report

Stoughton Schools
Public Schools Closed Thursday-Staff Reports

Verona Schools
Closed Thursday - Staff To Report

Waunakee Schools
Closed Thursday - Staff To Report

Here's a statement from the Verona school district:

Dear VASD Parents and Guardians,

Late this afternoon, we received word that the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) called for its members (teachers and support staff) to come to the Capitol on Thursday and Friday of this week in response to the Governor’s Budget Repair Bill. Given the number of reported absences as of 9:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, we determined that we are unable to safely operate our schools on Thursday. Therefore, all classes and after school activities (including athletic events) are canceled for Thursday, February 17th.

We will make every effort to open our schools on Friday, February 18th. Please stay tuned to your local radio and television stations as well as our district website before departing for school on the 18th.

I hope you will accept my sincere apology for the inconvenience this will cause you and your family. Please feel free to call me at 608-845-4310 or email me at gorrelld@verona.k12.wi.us if you have any questions regarding this development.

Most Sincerely,

Dean Gorrell

Superintendent

It's illegal for teachers to strike in Wisconsin.

Is this union organized "sickness" illegal?

Naturally, the teachers are claiming their refusal to do the job they're paid to do is not a strike, it's a "political action."

Give me a break.