More than 1,000 teachers across the Metro Nashville Public Schools district called off work Friday amid an ongoing protest for larger pay raises.

The action came just days after Mayor David Briley unveiled his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1.

His spending plan, which still must win Metro Council approval, includes a $28.2 million increase for Nashville public schools' operating budget, which would be enough to cover a 3% cost-of-living raise for school employees.

But that falls short of the school board's request of $76.7 million more for the upcoming year, enough to cover a 10% raise for employees.

Amanda Kail, president-elect for the Metropolitan Nashville Education Association, said the teacher absences are meant as a protest against Briley's proposed budget.

A Metro Schools representative said Friday morning, based on the district's records, there are 1,431 total absences.

"Of that number, 1,091 are teachers," MNPS spokeswoman Dawn Rutledge said.

The absences forced school officials to warn parents Thursday night. In the announcement, officials said the district would work to cover all classes.

On Friday, some parents at McGavock High School picked up students early. Children leaving the school reported they were released early.

But Rutledge said that, to her knowledge, school remained in session.

“We know some parents have chosen to pick up their kids, but I have not heard of any reports of schools calling parents to pick up kids,” Rutledge said. "I don’t know the circumstances, if they’re picking them up because of this or if they have doctor’s appointments."

About 5,000 teachers work in the school district.

Briley spokesperson Thomas Mulgrew said Friday that the mayor understands the teachers' concerns about raises and wants to reassure them that he will find ways to continue increasing pay "through a multi-year approach."

"Because of work done this past year to get the budget under control, MNPS will have a $34.9 million increase in operating and debt service funds — up from $5 million last year," Mulgrew said. "The Mayor is strongly urging the School Board — which decides how this money is used — to use these funds to provide teacher and staff raises."

The majority of the funds in the district's original $76.7 million request would have gone toward pay raises for teachers and school staff.

Kail said that the protest, known as a "sickout," signals a growing frustration among district employees over stagnant wages and increasing costs of living in Nashville.

"You have to understand that teachers haven't had a cost-of-living or a significant raise, depending on how you define significant, in 10 to 15 years," Kail said. "People are getting pretty fed up."

Here's a breakdown of the list of some schools with teachers who called in or asked for substitute requests:

Andrew Jackson Elementary – 10 absences

Antioch High – 17 absences

Apollo Middle – 14 absences

Bellevue Middle – 22 absences

Cane Ridge High – 21 absences

Glencliff High – 10 absences

H.G. Hill Middle – 10 absences

Hillsboro High – 11 absences

Hunters Lane High – 11 absences

Maplewood High – 13 absences

McGavock High – 123 absences

J.T. Moore Middle – 14 absences

Overton High – 29 absences

Percy Priest Elementary – 10 absences

Tusculum Elementary – 11 absences

Whites Creek High – 13 absences

Whitsitt Elementary – 10 absences

Wright Middle – 14 absences

Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at nalund@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.