Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – As Grant Middle School faculty continue to voice concerns about rising threats and violence – and a seeming lack of consequences – about two dozen teachers took the day off Friday.

District 186 superintendent Jennifer Gill, stopping short of calling the action a “sickout” or a “walkout,” said the teachers involved did follow procedures in taking the day off, and that more than enough substitutes — which a district news release referred to as “guest teachers” – were available.

Gill said she’s not leaning toward disciplining the teachers now.

“i don’t necessarily condone or appreciate people calling off,” Gill told WWTAX News, “but i understood, after meeting with them that we have some work to do, and a new principal is coming in” in August.

What about the Grant students who are would rather fight than learn?

“We have to utilize our plan of action for student discipline,” Gill responded. “We have to keep it consistent. We have to make sure that we are communicating with staff about what that discipline measure was. We need to look at beefing up and putting into place some of the alternative programs that make sense.”

An organizer of Friday’s day off, music teacher Brian “Mr. D” Daugherty, relayed a letter a teacher received from a sixth-grader.

“Change my grade now, or I will come in and k— you. I know where you live, h-, and i’m not playing, okay? And, matter of fact, i am going to r— you and eat your a– and have my brother put his d— inside you. Okay, h-?