The principal of P.S. 136 did not return a phone call yesterday, and a district spokesman declined to comment.

"It's really hard to sell a budget when they're still reeling from those huge increases," a district spokesman, Robert Hanlon, said.

A district spokesman called its action routine.

"In some communities, it has helped us," said Murray Harris, a district spokesman.

Tony Taschner, a district spokesman, stated that no disciplinary action was planned.

Eric W. Schoen, the district spokesman, said he thought the district used only one day last year.

Jay Dillon, a district spokesman, said teachers should teach "all sides of an issue" instead of just evolution.

A district spokesman said that pay cuts for teachers was a necessary requirement for balancing the school's budget.

"Reasonable people can do reasonable things," said Bill Carbone, a district spokesman.

"Instead of fighting it," said Ron Levine, a district spokesman, "we're going to make it work for us."