DETROIT -- Parents were asked to pick up their children after an alleged teacher sick-out closed more than 50 schools in Detroit Wednesday.

Teachers called in sick to protest pay raises for administrators and pay cuts for teachers, Local 4 reported.

(To see a full list of the 53 school closures, click here.)

Teachers had money taken out of their paychecks this pay period as a loan for the financially strapped Detroit Public Schools, but teachers were upset to learn that some principals and other administrators are set to receive an 11 percent pay raise, Local 4 reported.

"The district asked us, the DFT, for about $63 million in concessions," said Detroit Federation of Teachers Executive Director Jana Garrison. "And although we made suggestions to them as to how they could better manage this district without the concessions. In the end, they turned all of our recommendations down."

During a news conference Wednesday, Garrison accused Detroit Public Schools CEO William Coleman of lying, Local 4 reported.

"It's unfortunate she would characterize it that way," said Coleman about Garrison's alleged comment. "What happened today was a bit of a tragedy that so many teachers chose to deprive Detroit students of a day of education."

Coleman said the school district feels it was an "inappropriate" way for the teachers to deal with what appears to be a contract dispute.

"It's unfortunate. The equity adjustment for the principals was included in our budget in June. It was in the adopted budget. The Detroit Federation of Teachers spent the summer going over our budget with a fine-toothed comb. We kept insisting that they take a 10 percent pay and benefit reduction ... like all of the other unions were doing. The DFT made it very clear that they couldn't care less about any other union but themselves. They didn't ask questions about anything that was going on with any other collective bargaining unit, or any other employee group. Now some of them are trying to say, 'Well, you didn't tell us.' Well, you didn't ask. You had no interest in any other group. You kept saying, 'We're just talking about teachers.'"

On a normal day, about 300 teachers and staff members call in sick in the school district. At a school board meeting Tuesday evening, word came that about 1,500 of the district's teachers and staff had already called in sick for Wednesday, the station reported.

The total number of teachers who called in sick Wednesday was not known, according to the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

A sick-out is not sanctioned by the teachers' union, according to Local 4 reports. Garrison said such an action would be illegal. The union and school district are negotiating a new contract, Local 4 reported.

Garrison, however, said the union was aware of the rumor of a sick-out.

"Of course we don't respond to rumors. Our position is if our teachers are sick, they should stay home. That is why they have sick days. And if our teachers are well, they should be at work," said Garrison.

Garrison described Detroit teachers as hardworking and dedicated.

"We have great teachers. They do a superb job and are faced with some enormous challenges," said Garrison.

Mayor Releases Statement About Alleged Sick-Out

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick released the following statement regarding the alleged sick-out:

"I am disappointed that some teachers have decided to not show up for class today, forcing the District to close schools. The actions of these teachers are hurting our children and our community. Teaching is a calling, not just a job."

Local 4 is the official school closing network. Stay tuned to Local 4 News Thursday morning with Guy Gordon and Rhonda Walker for the latest developments on Detroit Public Schools.