WPRO News and the Associated Press
WARWICK, R.I. (AP) — A high school in Warwick has been canceled after more than half of its teachers and staff called in sick.
Superintendent Philip Thornton is blaming a “sick-out” at Pilgrim High School amid ongoing contract negotiations with the union.
The school says 91 out of around 140 teachers and staff called in sick on Friday.
Thornton told parents in an email that the numbers of teachers who called in sick rose so high that they could not safely open the school. He says the sick-out hurts students. He told WPRO News’ Bill Haberman that “we would expect anyone who is out to have a doctor’s note.”
The Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoe says there is no planned sick out and tells Haberman that “if teachers call in sick, then they are sick. It’s cold and flu season.” Thornton calls Netcoe’s statement “ridiculous.”
All other Warwick schools are open on Friday. Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian spoke about Friday’s events with WPRO’s Gene Valicenti. LISTEN BELOW:
