Teacher absences close Bates Academy Friday

Detroit Public School's Bates Academy closed Friday because of large numbers of teachers calling in sick or unavailable for work.

On Thursday, seven DPS schools were closed because of so-called "sick outs."

DPS administration condemned the action in an emailed statement this morning.

“Every time we are forced to close a school because of the selfish and irresponsible actions of Ms. Conaway and her followers, it results in a day of lost instruction for our students as well as money wasted in a district that is so desperately in need of financial assistance to regain solvency. Using the children as pawns in a game orchestrated to further their group’s political agenda certainly does not make a compelling argument for the investment that the District so desperately needs the state to make in its future. The community, especially the parents who are highly inconvenienced by these inexcusable actions, as well as the entire state should be outraged and demand accountability from those responsible.”