Nevada School District Seeks Restraining Order to Stop Teacher ‘Sickouts’

After four Nevada schools were forced to close again Tuesday with teachers participating in a "sickout," the state's school district has turned to the courts to try and keep educators in the classroom.

As The Messenger reported last week, Clark County School District, just outside Las Vegas, was growing tired of staff participating in what it called "sickouts" connected to ongoing contract negotiations.

On Tuesday, Southwest Career and Technical Academy, Sig Rogich Middle School, Gwendolyn Woolley Elementary School, and Neil C. Twitchell Elementary School all turned students away due to a lack of licensed staff.

In response, the district announced that it was seeking a restraining order and an injunction to stop teachers from taking sick leave in this way.

"The actions of licensed educators have forced the closure of three CCSD schools and severely disrupted the operations of two additional schools through a targeted and coordinated rolling-sickout strike," the district said in a statement released Tuesday morning.

"The District decided to file the motion due to the escalating nature of the rolling sickouts that have been reported starting September 1, as there is no indication that they will cease without court intervention and injunctive relief."

Negotiations around teacher contracts have been underway since March, with Clark County Education Association saying Monday that members were "staying strong to ensure we get the contract we deserve."

The CCE has previously denied involvement in any "sickout" organization.

Parents, frustrated with the disruption, appear to be placing blame on the school district.

On a post about the district's 24/7 contact service, commenters said it should be talking about the teacher shortage instead.

"Pay your teachers what they're worth. My child is missing school because you can't get your c*** together," one parent said.