Teacher shortage closes Milwaukee schools
The state's largest school district has joined those that have canceled classes due to teacher shortages caused by union protests at the state Capitol.
Officials say more than 600 of the 5,400 teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools called in sick Friday to attend the protests over Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill. The district has more than 82,000 students at 184 schools.
Schools in Madison, Janesville, Wisconsin Dells and other districts around Wisconsin are also closed. Teachers and other state union workers are upset that Republican Gov. Scott Walker wants to curtail their collective bargaining rights and is asking them to contribute more to their health insurance and pensions.
Angry public workers have packed the state Capitol in Madison in protest.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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