City of Providence, Rhode Island, sends layoff notice to all public school teachers, cuts lawyer costs

Providence, RI, United States (AHN) – All of Providence’s 1,926 public school teachers received layoff notices on Tuesday.

The notices were sent by the Providence Public School Department as the school district attempts to reduce an almost $40 million deficit this coming academic year.

The notices, though do not mean that all the teachers will lose their jobs. It is only to comply with legal requirements that all the teachers be notified by March 1 of potential manpower reductions since the program cuts of the Providence government is still unknown.

Since the city spends 50 percent of its budget on education and Rhode Island’s capital is grappling with a $57 million deficit since last year, cuts to school budgets are inevitable.

Providence could not look up to the state government for help because Rhode Island is also in a tight financial bind.

To address the state’s budget problems, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee ordered the Department of Administration to inform all law firms under contract with the state that their legal fees will be reduced by 15 percent beginning March 1.

The move is expected to save Rhode Island $444,428 yearly. Chafee also mandated all state department, agencies and quasi-public agencies to inform all outside legal counsel of a 15 percent cut on their legal fees.

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