Labor & Employment Law

Fired Central Falls Teachers Keep Jobs in New Agreement

By James Parks

Teachers at Central Falls (R.I.) High School will keep their jobs under a new tentative agreement with the school system. The teachers will vote today on the new pact. Under the agreement, which was reached Saturday, the school system will implement a plan to turn around Central Falls High School for the 2010-2011 school year in a way that involves all stakeholders?administrators, teachers, students and parents?to create a pathway toward excellence for everyone at the school.

The agreement allows the current staff to return to the school without having to reapply for their jobs. Teachers will need to recommit to their jobs and interview with the new principal.

The plan also would incorporate important changes designed to increase student achievement. These include a longer school day, more after-school tutoring, a new evaluation system designed to inform teaching and learning and targeted and embedded professional development.

Jane Sessums, president of the Central Falls Teachers Union (CFTU), an affiliate of AFT, said:

There has always been agreement on these points: that we all want what is best for our students, and that significant changes are needed at Central Falls High School. Working together, we and the district have arrived at a solid, forward-looking agreement that provides supports for our students and the tools our teachers need to help them succeed. The hard work begins now, and the CFTU is prepared to work shoulder to shoulder with the district to give our kids the great education they deserve.

The Central Falls school trustees fired the entire high school teaching staff on Feb. 23. School Superintendent Fran Gallo agreed March 3 to resume bargaining and include the union in all discussions on a comprehensive education plan that will help students and teachers succeed. The move followed a nationwide public outcry, with thousands signing an online petition to tell school officials the students deserve better and they should work with teachers to build on improvements at the high school.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on May 17, 2010 (boomark / email).