Due to the poverty wages offered (in some places as low as $65 a day - $7.65 an hour, no benefits) many districts are having a very hard time finding substitute teachers to cover classes.

In my last district, it was not uncommon for five or six teachers' classes at a time to be "covered" by dumping them all in the auditorium with a single security officer or para supervising all 200+ kids. At my friend's feeder elementary, it's quite common for the music, art, resource, and/or computer teacher (specials) to be pulled from their room to cover a day's class too, and their classes are just rolled into extra PE time instead.

If your campus has procedures for being out (which every campus and district does) then follow them. And start using some of your student leaders to ensure that work is done and assignments are completed. If the campus isn't following its own policy, you can't be responsible for it.