Reply #11: Providence mayor closes 4 schools and fires all the teachers?

[madfloridian]

The article is dated March 22, 2011.
This is so tragic.

http://www.examiner.com/k-12-in-providence/providence-mayor-closes-schools-and-fired-teachers

"Monday, March 14, 2011, the Providence Journal reported that the Mayor of Providence decided to close four elementary schools after he sent out termination letters on March 1 to all of its teachers hoping that it will off set its $180 million deficit for this year and for the next fiscal year. Mayor Tavares’ decision devastated the teachers and families of Providence to the point where they rallied at City Hall and organized many community meetings to voice their opposition to his action. Ernest Almonte, the former state auditorgeneral and a member of the Mayor’s newly appointed review panel, said pensions and retiree benefits, along with a lack of flexibility in union contracts, are to blame for the problems, as is the city's failure to act sooner.

As a result, Mayor Tavares attacked teachers by firing each and every one of them in order to absorb some of this deficit. Why just teacher jobs? If an individual were to go down to the administration building and walk through all four floors of offices, they would see many cubicles that could be eliminated or consolidated. This would trim up that deficit without disrupting the lives of teachers, children, and families. Providence Schools believes it is all about “learning and teaching” but is it really? This action says it is about dollars and cents.

"It's really all about eliminating seniority," said teacherMaureen Miranda. "When you terminate people, they can hire back whoever they please."