Sickout in Englewood

More than 100 teaching assistants and secretaries in the Englewood schools called in sick Friday.

The calls came one day after the school board voted to explore replacing the support staff with employees from a private company.

School Superintendent Donald Carlisle tells The Record newspaper Friday was "Wellness Day" and school activities and business continued without the employees.

The school board believes it could save $2 million a year in salaries and benefits by outsourcing the jobs. The Englewood district is facing a $4 million budget shortfall.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)