Compton school teachers hold sickout

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- Teachers at four Compton schools staged a sickout Monday in protest of the slow progress of contract talks with the district.

Compton Unified School District Superintendent Darin Brawley said the district was aware in advance that many teachers were planning to call in sick and sent additional staff members to each of the four schools.

Still, some students said they just left school when it was apparent there were few teachers present. Parents said they were called to pick their children up early from school, and some were frustrated that they were even allowed to drop them off in the morning at all.

"It is unfortunate that these teachers chose to miss work today in relation to what appears to be their dissatisfaction with negotiations between the district and Compton Educators Association," Brawley said.

"The district is currently negotiating with the Compton Educators Association to address their proposals, while at the same time remaining in compliance with the letter of the law on how funds can be expended. It is our hope that we will be able to reach an agreement soon."

The four campuses involved in the sickout are Bursch and Kelly elementary schools and Centennial and Compton high schools.

The district and teachers union have been in negotiations since before the old contract expired a year ago.

The district has experienced several sickouts in recent years. In November, dozens of teachers called in sick for a day to protest the passage of a school bond measure.

In March 2014, about half the teachers at one high school called in sick one day to protest contract talks.

The district said all schools, including the four affected by Monday's sickout, should be open Tuesday.