by Lexi Kriss, WPRO
Warwick Teachers Union President Darlene Netcoh joined the Dan Yorke Show Friday afternoon after more than 70 out of approximately 140 teachers called in sick to Pilgrim High School Friday morning causing the school to close.
Earlier in the day, Superintendent Philip Thornton had accused the Teachers Union of orchestrating a “sick out.” Teacher strikes are against Rhode Island state law.
Seventeen minutes into the Union President’s conversation with Dan Yorke she acknowledged, “There was never any vote for a sickout, so whatever happened at Pilgrim; maybe some people were sick, some people have called out because they’re sick and tired of the situation in this district, many situations in this district.”
Netcoh presented a number of complaints including insufficient staffing for Individual Education Programs (IEPs).
When asked if she thought the teachers would be back to school on Monday, Netoch responded affirmatively, “they’ll have the weekend to recover.”
Warwick Superintendent Philip Thornton joined Dan Yorke following the Union President’s call.
The Superintendent reflected on the nature of the call outs, “With the striking, it’s one conversation, with sickout is another topic… I think we all now know this was a job action.”
Thornton detailed the district’s ongoing arbitration processes. He explained Warwick schools continue to transition to a new model and achieving many of the set goals will take time.
LISTEN TO BOTH CONVERSATIONS BELOW:
