Every Teacher in Providence Given Pink Slip Due To Expected Budget Shortfalls

We just saw how Michigan has responded to budget shortfalls by ordering the closure of half of Detroit’s school — pushing the class size to 60 students. Now, Supt. Tom Brady has gone one better: issuing pink slips to all of the teachers in the school system in anticipation of dire budget cuts. I have previously noted the disconnect in these stories as Congress and President Obama continue to gush billions in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. An effort by Ron Paul to force a pull out of the war to save $100 billion a year was roundly rejected this week.

Every one of the 1,926 teachers in Providence will receive the pink slips. Not all will be fired, but it allows the administration to fire as many teachers as necessary to meet the budget cuts.

They were informed by Brady that “We are forced to take this precautionary action by the March 1 deadline given the dire budget outline for the 2011-2012 school year in which we are projecting a near $40 million deficit for the district. 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 city had a $57-million deficit last year and expects a higher deficit this year.

Source: Projo