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171 teachers are no-shows on first day

ON THE first day of school, every child wants to know who his or her teacher is, but, according to the district's personnel chief, students in more than 100 classrooms across the city didn't get that chance yesterday. That's because 171 teachers, most of whom are tenured instructors, failed to show up for work, said human-resources chief Estelle Matthews.

ON THE first day of school, every child wants to know who his or her teacher is, but, according to the district's personnel chief, students in more than 100 classrooms across the city didn't get that chance yesterday. That's because 171 teachers, most of whom are tenured instructors, failed to show up for work, said human-resources chief Estelle Matthews.

"It's frustrating," she said. "To be absent on the first day of school is telling."

It was unclear how many were unexcused temporary absences and how many were unexpected resignations.

Three teachers were recent hires and didn't give prior notice. Matthews said those who quit without giving 60-days' notice, which violates a statute in the Pennsylvania School Code, will not be rehired.

Last year, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said she wanted to apply stricter consequences for teachers who leave without proper notice. Matthews said no such consequences have been set.