CF teachers union appeals firings

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) - The Central Falls Teachers Union is not going down with out a fight. Its leadership Monday filed labor relations charges over a improvement plan that calls for the entire faculty at Central Falls High School to be fired.

A union representative said the Union filed three unfair labor practice motions with the state Labor Relations Board. The motions claim the school district failed to bargain and did not provide teachers with enough information before its Board of Trustees last week voted to fire 93 teachers and other staff members at the end of the school year.

"Unfortunately, the Central Falls School District has chosen a path of mass firings, leaving us little choice but to seek all available remedies, including these Unfair Labor Practice charges," said Jane Sessums, President of Central Falls Teachers Union.

Sessums went on to urge city and state officials to return to the bargaining table.

"No meaningful reform efforts have ever succeeded without teachers as part of the solution," she said.

• See timeline of intervention at Central Falls High School

The firings, which have gained national attention, were part of a federal improvement plan for one of Rhode Island's lowest performing schools. Under the plan, no more than 50 percent of the staff could be rehired.

Central Falls Superintendent Frances Gallo said she was forced to turn to the federal plan after the district and the union could not agree on implementing changes, including offering more tutoring and a longer school day. The teachers said they want more pay for the additional work.

• Gallo talks about her decision

Gallo's decision has gotten the support of several high-profile figures, including President Barack Obama and RI Gov. Donald Carcieri.

• Read complete statement from Council 94

"It's all about getting kids the skills they need in order to be successful. If we're not getting there, then we've got to change it," Carcieri said Tuesday. "The things that the superintendent asked for were eminently reasonable. Twenty-five minutes more to the length of the day, I mean it's very reasonable. Spend more time with the kids and other teachers."

President Obama also commented on the situation during a news conference Monday.

"If a school continues to fail its students year, after year, after year, and doesn't show any sign of improvement, then there's got to be a sense of accountability. And that's what happened in Rhode Island last week," President Obama said.

Five schools in that Providence need to present their improvement plans next week and Providence Mayor David Cicilline said he hopes his city won't follow in Central Falls' foot steps.

"We've worked very hard so something like that won't happen. That we'll get where we need to be and that we'll do what we have to do to educate every child in the city, to give them a quality education. But do it in the real spirit of partnership," Cicilline said.