Teachers get dismissal notices

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Sending dismissal notices to the nearly 2,000 teachers in Providence, R.I., is "beyond insane," Providence Teachers Union President Steve Smith says.

Not all the teachers will be let go, but school officials said they are required by state law to notify teachers by March 1 of potential changes to employment status, The Providence Journal reported.

"We are forced to take this precautionary action by the March 1 deadline given the dire budget outline for the 2011-12 school year in which we are projecting a near $40 million deficit for the district," Superintendent Tom Brady wrote in an e-mail to teachers.

"Since the full extent of the potential cuts to the school budget have yet to be determined, issuing a dismissal letter to all teachers was necessary to give the mayor, the school board and the district maximum flexibility to consider every cost savings option, including reductions in staff."

The teacher's union said it makes no sense to send such a letter to teachers, despite the district's budget woes.

"This is beyond insane," Providence Teachers Union President Steve Smith said. "Let's create the most chaos and the highest level of anxiety in a district where teachers are already under unbelievable stress."

Brady said the notification gives the district additional flexibility when it deals with pending layoffs.

"To be clear about what this means," Brady wrote, "this action gives the school board the right to dismiss teachers as necessary, but not all teachers will actually be dismissed at the end of the school year."