Youngstown teacher absences range from 3 to 12 percent this month

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown city school teachers aren’t the only ones taking attendance.

Karen Green, assistant director for human resources, presented a report Thursday to the Youngstown Schools Academic Distress Commission comparing monthly teacher absences for the first three months of this school year and last.

This year’s percentage of teacher absences ranges from 3 percent at Wilson Programs of Promise in September to 12 percent at Choffin Career and Technical Center for the first 19 days of November.

Green said the district is establishing a committee of teachers and administrators to try to come up with solutions.

“We’re working to reduce the number of teachers that are absent,” she said.

By law, teachers are allowed 15 days of paid sick leave per year. Sick days accumulate from one year to the next if they aren’t used.

In talking with teachers, they’ve cited stress and the amount of work required to move the district forward as reasons for absenteeism, she said.

Read more about the situation in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.