Sick Out—Or Just A Lot of Sick Teachers?

Correction: Due to incorrect information provided by the Elk Grove Unified School District, an earlier version of this article misstated the number of teachers in the district who called in sick Friday. The correct number is 351.

With 351 Elk Grove Unified School District teachers calling in sick to work Friday, rumors were flying among parents and in the media that the mass absence was a protest of the district's stance in ongoing contract negotiations.

Not so, said teachers' union president Maggie Ellis.

"The union did not endorse or plan anything like this," Ellis said, adding that there was a flu bug going around.

The number of sick calls was above average for the district's 3,400 teachers, but pretty typical for the Friday before a three-day weekend, said district spokesperson Liz Graswich. (Monday is a district holiday.)

The district had substitutes on call, and all classes were staffed, Graswich said.

"We watched movies all day," said Christian Rau, a sophomore at Sheldon High School, where according to the district 62 of 104 teachers called in sick.

News10 reported receiving a letter from a group of teachers saying they were staging a grassroots protest.

It wouldn't be the first time this year that teachers took collective action. Last month, some Elk Grove Education Association members stopped doing extra work hours beyond those specified in their contract, upset at district proposals to cap the amount spent on their healthcare benefits.

But individual teachers Elk Grove Patch talked to said they hadn't heard anything about a sickout. If it really were a protest, one middle-school teacher commented, "we'd have way more...teachers out. We'd cripple the district and we'd make sure the media knew about it well in advance."

Teachers, if you're reading this, let us know: Did you call in sick as a protest Friday? If so, why?

Parents and students: How were you affected?