Two more Detroit high schools closed after teacher sick-out

So many teachers called in at both Renaissance High School and Martin Luther King High School Thursday morning that, according to a statement, the distrcit had no other choice but to close the schools and interupt the students education. This is the ninth sick-out day affecting thousands of Detroit students in recent weeks.

It is how some teachers are choosing to show their disapproval of the state of Detroit Public Schools, but more drastic measures could be coming.

"They have to do what they have to do and me, as a parent, I have to do what I have to do. So, my daughter is out of school today but she does have homework," says Victor Wright.

This is the second time this week that adminstrators had to call off class because of the high number of teacher absenses.

Cass Tech, one of the largest schools in the district, cancelled classes on Tuesday.

It's a district-wide trend that's been happening a lot in recent weeks as teachers take a stand against classroom overcrowing, cuts in their healthcare and no pay raises as of late.

"The governor is the heart of all this. He's trying to destroy the schools. He's the lynch pin of all this and we are here to save the schools, to defend the schools and we know with the parents and students support - which we have - we will win this fight," says Steve Conn. He's the elected president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers.

The district has been under state oversight since 2009 while it tries to pay off hundreds of millions of dollars in DPS debt. The latest approach involves a school reform plan proposed by the governor himself. While most agree something needs to be done and soon, the question remains whether sick-outs are really the best solution or if the students are suffering now.

"We were getting ready for finals. For me, I've got projects to do, things I need to do on the computer that I can't do that at home. So, it kind of sets my schedule off," says student Tavion Curry.

Steve Conn is organizing a meeting that will be held this Sunday, January 10 at 4 p.m. at the Gracious Savior Church on James Couzens in Detroit. He is calling all teachers, parents and students to attend to talk about the possibility of a strike.