Rhode Island District to Rehire All Fired Teachers

May 16, 2010 — -- A Rhode Island school district that voted to clean house at a failing high school has reached a deal with the teachers union to hire back the entire staff, who had all been fired in February.

The agreement between the district and the union will require a longer school day, more after-school tutoring and other changes, according to The Associated Press.

"Both the school district and the union agree that while this has been a difficult process for everyone involved, the negotiations resulted in a newfound appreciation for shared responsibility, and a solid commitment to bring lasting solutions that will improve teaching and learning at Central Falls High School," said a joint statement from the union and the district.

The agreement, which will have to be ratified by the teachers union, means the staff will not have to reapply for their jobs, but they will be required to recommit to their jobs and go through an interview with the school's new principal.

Details of the agreement were to be released following a ratification vote by Central Falls teachers at a meeting Monday.

The Central Falls school district's board of trustees voted Feb. 23 to fire all 74 teachers as well as guidance counselors, librarians and other staff at Central Falls Senior High School.

The vote came after weeks of debate on how school Superintendent Frances Gallo believed the school, one of the poorest performing in the state, could be improved.

Gallo announced in early February that she would have no choice but to propose firing all the teachers after the Central Falls Teachers Union refused to accept her improvement plan.

The plan called for longer school days and after-school tutoring by the teachers, among other things.

The plan was spurred by Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist's mandate last month that the high school, as well as six other schools in the state, revamp their institutions.