Ann Zaniewski

Detroit Free Press

Teacher absences forced 88 Detroit schools to close today, the largest sick-out meant to call attention to large class sizes, dilapidated buildings and other problems in Michigan's largest school district.

The sick-out idled most of Detroit Public Schools' 46,000 students. It came on the same day President Barack Obama was visiting the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall.

"Things have been happening for so long, and I think teachers felt like they had no voice," said Lacetia Walker, an instructional specialist in special education for DPS. "This has been a way for us to draw attention to the conditions of the buildings, the fact that teachers' STEP pay has been frozen for years. ...

"We realized that nobody is coming to save us, so we have to save ourselves."

District officials said they had no choice but to close schools amid the sick-out.

"This means that 44,790 of the district's 46,325 students lost a critical day of instruction," spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said. "There were, however, nine district schools that stayed open today. We appreciate the teachers and staff at those schools for being in their classrooms and ensuring that their students are learning today."

Zdrodowski said the district has been meeting with teachers since last week to discuss their concerns but said the sick-outs could make a legislative fix harder.

"The only way we will be able to address the bigger issues is through an investment by the Michigan Legislature in the students and families of DPS," Zdrodowski said. "Obtaining this support becomes more difficult with each sick-out that happens."

Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter, R-Mt. Pleasant, said the political maneuvering by the union "goes against the very purpose of these schools by putting the wants of adults ahead of the needs of the children. These teachers deserve to be fired for turning their backs on the children in their care...

"These selfish actions do nothing to help Michigan children, and they do nothing to help the union members who want state support for their failing school district. These part-time educators want a handout, but the state of Michigan wants confidence that an improved DPS won't be torn apart from the inside."

Walker said the sick-outs were organized by a grassroots group called DPS Teachers Fight Back, though teachers at individual buildings voted on whether to participate.

The closed schools are: Academy of the Americas, Adult Education Center - West, A.L. Holmes, Ann Arbor Trail, Bagley, Bates, Benjamin Carson, Bennett, Blackwell, Bow, Breithaupt, Brewer, Bunche, Burton International, Carleton, Carstens, Carver, Cass Tech, Clark, Clemente, Clippert, Cody APL, Cody DIT, Cody Medicine, Cooke, Crockett CTC, Davis Aerospace, Davison, DCP @Northwestern, Detroit International Academy, Detroit Lions Academy, Detroit School of the Arts, Diane Banks Williamson, Dixon, Dossin, Douglass, Drew, Durfee, Duke Ellington, Earhart, East English Village, Edison and Emerson.

What it�s like to teach at Detroit Public Schools

Also closed are Fisher Lower, Fisher Upper, FLICS, Gardner, Garvey, Golightly CTC, Gompers, Harms, Henderson, Hutchinson, Keidan, J.R. King, Martin Luther King Jr. High School, Ludington, MacKenzie, Mann, Marquette, Thurgood Marshall, Mason, Maybury, Moses Field Center, Munger, Neinas, Nichols, Osborn Evergreen, Osborn Math, Osborn Prep, Palmer Park, Pasteur, Priest, Randolph, Renaissance High School, Paul Robeson/Malcolm X, Ronald Brown, Sampson, Shultze, Spain, Thirkell, Turning Point, Wayne, West Side Academy, J.L. White, Charles Wright and Coleman Young.

Steve Conn supporters storm hotel to protest

At 7:30 a.m., the district posted on its Facebook page: "The following DPS schools are open today: Communication Media Arts, Chrysler, Fleming, Golightly Elementary-Middle, Greenfield Union, Pulaski, Priest, Vernor, Western"

Teachers have been using rolling sick-outs in recent weeks to spotlight the poor conditions of dilapidated schools. Many say they’re also concerned about stagnant wages, super-sized classes and Gov. Rick Snyder’s controversial plan to divide DPS into two, one to pay off the district's debt, the other to educate children

"I feel like if this is the only way that someone will at least listen to all the atrocities that are going on in DPS, then I support the teachers 100%," said Jeffrey Gisstennar, president of a parents group at Renaissance and father of a sophomore. "Teachers have one of the most important jobs on the planet."

Photos: Dilapidated conditions inside Detroit Public Schools

Detroit school 'sickouts' measure system's dysfunction

DPS is in danger of running out of cash by April or May, according to emergency manager Darnell Earley. The district’s total debt, including unfunded pension liabilities, is estimated to be as high as $3.5 billion.

Last week, State Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, introduced two long-awaited bills aimed at revamping public education in Detroit. It would, among other things, add additional financial oversight and a school board made up of appointees of Snyder and Mayor Mike Duggan, the latter being a point of contention for Detroit lawmakers who want local control immediately. The body would later be replaced by an elected board.

Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AnnZaniewski.