COMPTON : Schools Cope With Job Action by Teachers

Teacher sickouts at Compton schools have angered some parents and forced district officials to scramble for substitutes.

The sickouts, which involved dozens of instructors in at least three schools, were not sanctioned by the teachers union, and district officials said they were mystified about why teachers are upset.

The sickouts have taken place intermittently over the last three weeks at Dominguez High School, Roosevelt Middle School and Willowbrook Middle School, district spokeswoman Arianna Barrios said. On one day, more than 20 teachers called in sick at Dominguez.

A dozen Compton parents picketed Tuesday in front of the teachers union office in Compton to protest the job action. Kalem Aquil, a parent who organized the demonstration, said he is fed up with district teachers who fail to report to work. “Our children aren’t being educated,” Aquil said.

In recent weeks, individual teachers and union officials have complained about a 3% pay cut for teachers and about new long-term contracts given to district officials. Some teachers also are unhappy about which administrators have been appointed to oversee schools.