Teachers rally against mass firings

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) - Teachers from Central Falls High School held another rally , fighting to keep their jobs.

Nearly 100 teachers gathered in front of West Warwick High School around 4 p.m. on Thursday before the Board of Regents meeting got underway.

All 93 teachers, administrators, and support staff at the high school were fired, when the union did not agree on a reform model to turn around the  underperforming school.

On Wednesday, Superintendent Frances Gallo has said she is willing to have a discussion with the teachers' union, in an effort to prevent the mass firings. Gallo said she's excited that the union is willing to support reforms at the chronically low-performing school.

"Now what I'm seeing is, they're ready. We're still in the turn around model. We haven't moved on that idea. Let's get to the table. Let's really put the meat onto these bones here that we have," said Gallo.

The union is yet to release an official response to the administration. One sticking point is that the teachers are looking to renegotiate the contract, but the superintendent disagrees.

• Watch Dr. Gallo & Union Rep. Faceoff on Newsmakers

Gallo said they first need to nail down all the changes in the turn around model and then renegotiate the contract.

The changes the teachers are now proposing and agreeing to would mean:

• Longer school days
• More tutoring opportunities
• Stiffer evaluations of their teachers

"I think my members are obviously going to welcome this, but they have been extremely strong through all this. But, like anyone, they want to know that they have job security," said the teachers' union president.