Exterior of Neil C. Twitches Elementary in Henderson, Nevada. Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Brian Ramos
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 | 8:25 a.m.
The Clark County School District closed four schools today because of a high number of teachers calling out sick.
Woolley Elementary on the northeast side, Twitchell Elementary in Henderson, Rogich Middle in Summerlin and Southwest Career and Technical Academy high school were closed “due to a high number of unexpected teacher absences” this morning, the district said.
The closures come within hours of CCSD filing an emergency motion for a court hearing where the district will argue teachers are engaging in an illegal strike.
Three schools closed and at least two others had to combine classrooms between Sept. 1 and Friday because of teachers calling out sick on short notice in such high numbers that schools could not operate normally.
Sickouts are considered strikes, which are illegal for Nevada public employees, under state law.
The district accused the Clark County Education Association teachers union of being responsible for the incidents, even if indirectly, and is seeking a judge’s order to end the actions.
CCEA and CCSD are battling over a new two-year contract, which the union wants to include 18% raises, among other demands.
“Defendants have already attempted in the media, and will surely continue to feign ignorance of these sickouts and hide behind a contrived veil of manufactured deniability,” the district argued in an 80-page motion filed Monday evening, referring to CCEA and its top leadership. “But defendants cannot credibly deny their direct planning, endorsement, and encouragement of the strike, which they have threatened for months.”
The hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday in Clark County District Court.
