44 Teachers Call In Sick as ‘Blue Flu’ Continues

Forty-four teachers called in sick Monday at two Compton middle schools, continuing a “blue-flu” work action that has struck 10 district schools so far this month. The teachers are protesting working since June without a contract.

At Roosevelt Middle School, 24 of 34 teachers called in sick Monday, said Thurman C. Johnson, assistant superintendent of the Compton Unified School District. Vanguard Middle School said that 20 of its 24 teachers were absent. Classes were taught by administrators and substitute teachers.

Negotiations between the district and the Compton Education Assn., which represents about 1,000 teachers, came to a halt last year when the district asked a state panel to evaluate its finances. The panel has yet to release its findings.