School board rescinds termination letters for 75%

PROVIDENCE – The Providence School Board rescinded letters of termination for 75 percent of its teachers on Tuesday.

The termination letters were sent out in accordance with state law that requires teachers to be notified about their employment status by March 1, while decisions on how to close the school budget deficit were weighed.

As of Tuesday, 1,445 teachers had their contracts renewed; about 370 teachers did not.

The teachers that did not have their termination notices rescinded were those at the schools slated for closure – Flynn, Windmill and West Broadway elementary schools - those being terminated for cause, those who chose to retire and teachers at persistently low-achieving schools.

Teachers as Asa Messer/Messer Annex have been spared and are being moved to the repurposed Bridgham Elementary School.

The terminated teachers can apply to fill available positions in the district, the School Board said while outlining a hierarchy for selection which includes allowing principals to choose teachers based on student needs, rather than strict seniority.

Nevertheless, 119 teachers will not have their termination letters rescinded because of disciplinary/performance reasons, their certifications are obsolete or they are holding temporary emergency certifications.