No school! Sike. While many wish their schools would shut down, for Denver Public School (DPS) students, this has become their reality.

Many teachers did not want school strikes to become the ultimate outcome but, the lack of change has left them no other choice.

Henry Roman, president of the union, explains, “We would rather be teaching students in our classrooms. But when the strike starts, we will be walking for our students. DPS must improve teacher pay to keep quality, experienced teachers in Denver classrooms.”

As recent days have passed, instead of coming together with teachers to make a deal, it seems that the schools are sending a negative message to the strike.

According to Jessica Seaman, “Denver Public Schools has prohibited its teachers and staff from attending conferences and training seminars this week.”

The school district is indirectly hurting these Denver students by not giving their teachers the opportunity to be educated in the most proper way.

In addition, though the schools are committed to remaining open during the strike, it’s been brought to the substitutes’ attention that it’s not an easy place to be.

“Walking into a strange school where the students don’t know me, the teachers don’t know me, I think would be a very, very difficult job,” Susan Cooper, substitute for DPS, said.

It’s simply just a wait-and-see process. Yet, “at the end of the day, you know, I’ve always said the number-one most important issue here is what’s in the best interest of our students. And that means we got to make sure that our teachers are there and that they are productive and that they’re well paid,” explained Mayor Hancock.