All Teachers in Rhode Island Get Pink Slips

In an extreme move to deal with a looming $40 million budget deficit, the Providence, RI school district issued dismissal notices to all of it's 1,926 teachers. "Since the full extent of the potential cuts to the school budget have yet to be determined, issuing a dismissal letter to all teachers was necessary to give the mayor, the School Board and the district maximum flexibility to consider every cost saving option, including reductions in staff," Superintendent Tom Brady stated in a district wide letter.

Tomorrow, the Providence, RI School Board will vote to pass a resolution that will dismiss every teacher on the last day of school. Supposedly, not all teachers will be fired. Rather, the district is making the resolution in order to achieve maximum flexibility needed to take care of the current financial budget crisis. State law in Rhode ISland mandates that teachers be notified of any potential changes in their future status on or before March 1. It's a move intended to keep the school board's options open.

Teachers and Teacher's Union Shocked

Steven Smith, Providence Teacher's Union President, has compared the surprise attack on Providence teachers to the 1941 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. "This is beyond insane. Let's create the most chaos and the highest level of anxiety in a district where teachers are already under unbelievable stress. Now I know how the United States State Department felt on Dec, 7, 1941," Smith stated. Teachers and union representatives were quite obviously surprised and upset by the abrupt move.

The problem is not only in the Providence school district. The financial crisis is a city-wide problem similar to what many other cities and states are facing, or about to face, all across the U.S. Providence is facing a dire situation with a projected $40 million budget deficit, and that's just for the Providence school district. In 2010, the city laid off 100 teachers to help cover a $57 million gap in the budget.

Just the Beginning for Teachers Across U.S.?

For teachers and school districts all over the U.S., this situation in Providence may be a portent of things to come. Sure, firing all 1,927 teachers seems extreme, and it's likely that not all of the teachers will actually be fired. Mayor Angel Taveras says that it's really too early to determine exactly what effect future budget cuts will have on teachers at this point. The Mayor's office is waiting on the results from an independent panel commissioned to take a close look at the city's finances. As most U.S. cities and states are likely to face similar situations in the near future, how will these situations be handled? As for teachers in Providence, it may be a long, tough road ahead.

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Providence, RI Plans to Pink Slip ALL Teachers

Providence, Rhode Island, Issues Pink Slips to All Its Teachers

Providence, R.I., to pink slip all teachers