Catherwood LibraryILR School

The school board of Central Falls High School in Rhode Island decided this week to take the advice of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and vote in radical reform. Central Falls has extremely high rates of poverty and unemployment, and with a 47% graduation rate the school is struggling to get by. At the same time, many feel that the school provides the only stability and ever-present adult role models that the students need. Now, in an effort to restart and rejuvenate the school, the board has decided to shut down and start all over with a new staff. 74 teachers and 19 full-time staff members will be out of work. While everyone acknowledges that change and improvement is needed, many are unsure this is the best way to go about it. Teachers from all over RI and former students have returned to fight the move with the union, which is upset that the firings come in the middle of a three-year contract. Devastated fired teachers are being offered counseling by the district.