Providence Board Votes to Terminate All Teachers

More than 700 gathered to protest
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 25, 2011 8:59 AM CST
Providence, Rhode Island, School Board Votes to Terminate All Public School Teachers
Providence will be giving all of its teachers termination notices.   (Shutter Stock)

Those 1,926 pink slips will definitely be going out in Providence: After two hours of debate, the school board voted last night to send out termination notices to every public school teacher in the city. More than 700 teachers gathered to express their feelings: "disrespected," "bullied," "devalued and marginalized." But the board still voted 4-3 in favor of the controversial measure, the Providence Journal reports.

Many teachers asked to be laid off instead of terminated, since layoffs provisions state that teachers be recalled based on seniority, whereas seniority may or may not play a role in the rehiring of terminated teachers. “Termination is a career-ender. You are putting a scarlet letter on every one of us," said one. Another claimed that the board wants "to pick and choose teachers." The superintendent has said that most of the teachers will be rehired, but has not given any details. Click for more on why Providence is doing this. (More Providence, RI stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X