Nearly half of Kansas City high school's teachers call in sick

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Angry that a student didn't get a longer suspension for bringing a Taser stun gun to school in October, nearly half of the teachers at a Kansas City high school called in sick Friday.

Students at Central High School started the day in the gymnasium after 32 of the school's 70 teachers didn't show up, district spokesman Edwin Birch said. Eventually, substitutes and other staff were used to fill the vacancies.

"Class went on mostly the same," Birch said. "I'm sure students caught up on their homework."

The "sick out" was in response to Superintendent Bernard Taylor's decision to allow the student to return to classes this week. State law permits suspensions of a year or more, or expulsions, for students who bring weapons to school. But the law also gives superintendents the authority to modify suspensions on a case-by-case basis.

"For myself and others, it was important to send a message downtown that they have to abide by the policies in place to protect both students and the staff," said Central English teacher Deirdre Zongker.

The district would not discuss whether the absent teachers would be penalized.