The teachers at Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School staged a sick out Wednesday.
According to a statement from a spokesperson for Baltimore City Public Schools, the absent teachers reported that they were taking sick leave.
The absence may have been motivated by concerns over budget challenges and potential layoffs next school year, the statement said.
"I am extremely disappointed that staff members may have chosen to express their anxiety about school budgets by disrupting teaching and learning for our students and compromising students' access to the services and supports we provide in a safe, positive school environment," said CEO Sonja Brookins Santelises. "I encourage all City Schools staff members and the entire City Schools community to seek out ways to advocate for our students that are not at the same time detrimental to the very young people we serve."
The Baltimore Teachers Union released a statement in response to the teacher sick outs.
The Baltimore Teachers Union is working to find a solution to the proposed cuts to teachers, paraprofessionals, and school-related support staff in Baltimore City Schools. Currently, we are having conversations with state officials in Annapolis, our City Council representatives, and the Mayor's office to find creative ways to keep our teachers and support staff in the classroom so our children will continue to receive a quality education. This budget gap is a multifaceted issue that requires time and multiple partners to resolve, and the BTU is committed to seeing this process through to the end.Any action that is perceived as a strike is illegal, and is neither condoned, nor supported, by the Baltimore Teachers Union. These actions negatively impact the classroom and put teachers and our students at risk.
