DiPalma Proposes Bill To Ease Teacher Layoff Scare

In light of recent budget uncertainties in Central Falls in 2010 and Providence thia year, Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton) recently proposed a bill to move teacher layoff notification dates from March 1 to June 1.

The goal, he said, is to prevent schools from sending out too many unnecessary layoff notices to teachers early on in the budget cycle.

“Do they exactly know? No,” he said, “because budgets are being done into the June time frame, as opposed to when it is unclear in March. I feel accountable with what happened this year in Providence and last year in Central Falls.”

Most school districts in the state prepare portions of their budget blind, with little information available as to certain funding sources.

“The result is hat they often have to issue excessive pink slips to dozens or, in extreme cases, even hundreds of teachers to make sure they’re covered for the worst-case scenario when their budgets are prepared,” said DiPalma. “It’s an unnecessary, frightening and disruptive experience for teachers, students and parents, and it hangs over their heads from March 1 until the budget is settled months later.”

He added that it’s a waste of resources to issue so many layoff notices when many will not actually be terminated.

The bill has been heard in the House and Senate, and is currently being held for study in the Senate Labor Committee. The bill is 2011-S 0071.