Providence, RI School District: All teachers are fired

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When it comes to government budgets, there are cuts, and then there are cuts. The Providence, Rhode Island school district definitely took budget cutting to the extreme when it sent a letter out to its teachers on Tuesday: you're all fired.

With a projected deficit of nearly $40 million for the school department, Superintendent Tom Brady told teachers the budget situation was dire. So dire, it seems, that the department sent dismissal notices to all 1,926 of its teachers, according to CBS affiliate WPRI.

In his letter to the entire school department, republished in The Providence Journal, Brady wrote, "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 savings option."

State law requires that teachers be notified about potential changes to their employment status by March 1. In a news release from the Major Angel Taveras' office, the city explains, "The March 1 deadline requires that teachers be notified now about any potential changes to their status, despite the fact that budget planning for next year is still ongoing."

As the department works on the budget for next year, they will eventually determined how many teachers will need to be let go. Not every teacher will lose their job, even though they all just got a letter to that effect.

But don't tell that to Providence Teachers Union President Steve Smith, who told The Providence Journal that the decision was "beyond insane."

"To take this approach is unconscionable," Smith told the Journal. He claims he was caught completely off-guard by Superintendent Brady's letter. Referencing a different surprise attack, Smith said, "Now I know how the United States State Department felt on December 7, 1941."

[Dr_Cruel]

I've been waiting for them to do this for years.

Now all we need is a school voucher system for the kids. Let the private schools do the rest.

[almyt5]

Since when did teachers become the scapegoat for states with no money? TEACHERS ARE FIRED, SURE LOOKS GOOD IN PRINT DOESN'T IT...HOW LOW CAN THEY GO IS WHAT IT BRINGS TO MIND. ITS ALMOST LIKE BLAMING YOUR PREACHER FOR ALL YOUR PROBLEMS. ANSWER THIS WHEN IS THE HOLY POLITICANS GOING TO GIVE UP THEIR PRECIOUS MONEY, HEALTH CARE RETIREMENT, TAX PAYERS PAYING FOR THEIR EVERY NEED FOR LIFE. AND THEY INTURN SCREW US TO THE WALL NOW ITS TEACHERS. WHAT KIND OF STATEMENT ARE THEY MAKING...SOON PROPLE WILL BE TAKING TO THE STREETS. ITS THE POLITICANS WHO GOT US IN THEI MES AND NOW THEY WANT OUR DROPS OF BLOOD TO GET THEM OUT...THEY HAVE GONE TO FAR..WONDER WHEY THEY PLASTIC HAIRED IGOITS SMILE SO MUCH...WELL THEY ENJOY IT SO MUCH WHILE THEY STAB US ALL IN THE BACKS...PEOPLE ARE WISING UP PRETTY QUICK NOW THAT THE GREEDY REPUBLICANS ARE BACK IN CHARGE AND PUTTING THE SCREWS TO US FATS...THE PUBLIC IS FINALLY WISING UP AND WE'RE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING USED WHILE THEY ARE TREATED LIKE ROYALITY...WHICH THEY ARE NOT...ITS TIME FOR A STOP!

[CJamesTournbleau]

We need to FIRE our government! They have failed us miserably.

[IreneFaye]

Comment after comment and all that is conveyed is criticism, sarcasism and mindless chatter. When will Americans realize that we are all in this together? It's not always about the money, folks. It is also about our collective behavior and values, our decency and concern for one another. No amount of money is needed in order for any of us to learn and show respect, honor differences, show compassion and appreciation. Teachers can not be expected to do the job of parents, family or community. Children learn by example. If people around them don't value learning and getting a good education, our children won't either. Our education system cannot do it's job no matter how good teachers are or how much money we spend if our values are not inforced at home. Don't blame the teaching profession, or deny their right to collective bargaining for the mistakes we, as a country, are making.

[netjunkie1]

Was that legal?
I don't think so, the rule was supposed to be the final decision, not one you can delay by mass firing...This could go to court.

[wrtaylor82]

This is insane. First WI now RI, it makes me ashamed to be apart of a country that a President he said he would back the workers, the GOP owned by the major oil companies, the inconsiderate things the teachers and other public workers are being asked to do. When we start disregarding those people who really work to make America better it just leaves an uneasy feeling and disgust with this country.

[askagain]

These cuts are the result of spending more and more money each year to expand programs and to pay higer wages. The reality is that many jurisdictions are running out of money. The private sector has been hit for a long time with loss of jobs, stagnant wages, and higher costs for things such as health insurance. Would it be fair if public sector workers are immune from sacrifice? Unless adjustments are made, our whole system could collapse.

[WeHappyFew]

Flip that, should teachers be given automatic raises in excess of salary negotiations when the private sector does well? If the private sector is failing to its job, one cannot expect to renegotiate what was an acceptable price for the services of the public sector.

Sorry Amex /Mastercard /mortgage provider, scrap my responsibility. Lets tear up your bill and start again? One makes an agreement, one pays end of discussion.

This is very, very simple. At the moment, there is not enough tax (percentage wise) coming in to run a first world country. Sooner or later people are going to realise we've got to pass the hat back up to the top and ask them to chip in. Not just count the personal income tax of their employees as the majority of their tax contribution.

Oh, in case you are wondering both my spouse and myself are higher rate tax payers working in the private sector. We are also able to do the math here.

[mharris_72]

I foresee illegal immigrants becoming teachers now. That should help help the budget! Just don't expect your kids to be able to read or write... in English that is.

[diamruby]

This is a great idea, now they can have everyone apply for the teaching positions, this should eliminate all the bad teachers that they cannot get rid of because of the laws that protect them from being fired even if they do a lousy job. One of the greatest problems facing the schools are alot of people producing mutiple children do not pay any state or federal tax's & most of their children also get 2 free meals per day at school, the illegals also pay no tax's & fill our schools with their children who speak no english, so now we have to hire bi-lingual teachers. We also have children in the classroom that are unable to ever learn that we must supply a special nurse to care for while at school, this is free day care for the parents, paid for by the government. Schools should be charging parents per child for education. Schools are not day-care centers. There are far too many parents getting a free ride. All sports, music & church events should be after school activities paid entirely by parents. Perhaps if schools can get back to being in charge of what happens at school we can become tops in education again. Get rid of all cell phones, children need to be in uniforms so that it isn't a daily fashion show competition,you will see alot of them in pajama bottoms, or half naked, parents no longer teach their children respect, children are in control at home & at school any more. We are lucky if we can find good teachers these days because teaching has become aa unrewarding career for many. Parents are responsible for their childrens behavior at home & at school, & they should be held accountable for it.

[mharris_72]

"Paid for by the government".... the government doesn't pay for anything, genius. Parents who pay taxes are paying for their childrens education. Your ideals are borderline communist. Move to China and see how you like your ideas.

[Zann-Zel]

Well that solves the problem! Just fire them all! LOL! Lets just have the 2nd graders teach the 1st graders and so on! No problem!

[DrCruel]

Or you could simply send the kids to superior pivate schools like La Salle Academy. If we use the same formula for per pupil tuition at teh public schools to pay the tuition of students at such private schools, we'd actually save money while giving children a superior education.

Of course that could be accomplished by a school voucher program or the like, but the teachers union would never stand for it. Oh - wait now, you said they fired all these characters, didn't you?

Well then. Good show.