STUDENT SICKOUT WORSENS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - More than a quarter of the 6,273 students in the Westside Union School District were absent Friday, the second day of a planned two-day student ``sickout'' organized by parents who want the district to settle stalled contract negotiations with teachers.

Officials said 1,714 students were marked absent Friday, 27.3 percent of the district's enrollment, compared with the 743 absences that were recorded the day before. The district typically has a 5 percent daily absentee rate.

``Obviously, there's been a lot of publicity in the paper,'' said Regina Rossall, assistant superintendent of educational services.

The greatest number of increased absences were at Hillview Middle School and Rancho Vista Elementary School. Hillview had a 59.9 percent absentee rate Friday, compared with 10 percent Thursday. Rancho Vista had 44.6 percent of its students out, compared with 12 percent the day before.

Cottonwood School had a 15.7 percent absentee rate Friday, compared with 21 percent Thursday, and Del Sur School had a 25 percent absentee rate Friday, compared with 23.7 percent Thursday.

Thursday and Friday were ``minimum days,'' where students got out about 1 p.m., an hour earlier than usual, officials said. Friday was the last school day before a three-week spring break vacation starting next week.

The teachers are asking for higher pay and more benefits than what the district is offering. A state mediator was called in after an impasse was declared in October. The teachers have been working without a contract since 1998.

Asked if the student sickout will make the district settle contract talks more quickly, Rossall said, ``The district continues to be willing to meet with teachers via the impasse process.''