Uploaded February 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Feb. 24: A Rhode Island high school fired all of its teachers, personnel, principals, and administrators Wednesday in hopes of putting its students on the path to better academic performance. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
The blue-and-white banner exclaiming "anticipation" on the front of Central Falls High School seemed like a cruel joke for an institution so troubled that its leaders decided to fire every teacher by year's end.
No more than half of those instructors would be hired back under a federal option that has enraged the state's powerful teachers union, earned criticism from students and drawn praise from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and some parents.
"We all have to go," Hope Evanoff, a French teacher at the high school, told msnbc TV.
The mass firings were approved by the school district's board of trustees Tuesday night after talks failed between Superintendent Frances Gallo and the local teachers union over implementing changes, including offering more after-school tutoring and a longer school day. The teachers say they want more pay for the additional work.
"If it's only an hour or two, I think teachers can afford to do that," said Robert Rivera, 40, who worries about sending his 13-year-old daughter to the troubled high school next year. "The teachers are overpaid."
But not every one in Central Falls was quick to blame the teaching staff for the school's poor academic performance. Only about half its students graduate, and only 7 percent of 11th-graders were proficient in math in 2009.
"It's sad what's happening and I'm a little surprised by all of this," Henry Neves, a 1995 graduate of Central Falls, told msnbc.com. "It's not the teachers fault. Not every teacher is bad. Everyone has a role here."
Feb. 24: A Rhode Island high school fired all of its teachers, personnel, principals, and administrators Wednesday in hopes of putting its students on the path to better academic performance. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
The blue-and-white banner exclaiming "anticipation" on the front of Central Falls High School seemed like a cruel joke for an institution so troubled that its leaders decided to fire every teacher by year's end.
No more than half of those instructors would be hired back under a federal option that has enraged the state's powerful teachers union, earned criticism from students and drawn praise from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and some parents.
"We all have to go," Hope Evanoff, a French teacher at the high school, told msnbc TV.
The mass firings were approved by the school district's board of trustees Tuesday night after talks failed between Superintendent Frances Gallo and the local teachers union over implementing changes, including offering more after-school tutoring and a longer school day. The teachers say they want more pay for the additional work.
"If it's only an hour or two, I think teachers can afford to do that," said Robert Rivera, 40, who worries about sending his 13-year-old daughter to the troubled high school next year. "The teachers are overpaid."
But not every one in Central Falls was quick to blame the teaching staff for the school's poor academic performance. Only about half its students graduate, and only 7 percent of 11th-graders were proficient in math in 2009.
"It's sad what's happening and I'm a little surprised by all of this," Henry Neves, a 1995 graduate of Central Falls, told msnbc.com. "It's not the teachers fault. Not every teacher is bad. Everyone has a role here."
![Apple says co-founder Steve Jobs has died [BREAKING News]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U_YoJ38dfBs/mqdefault.jpg "Apple says co-founder Steve Jobs has died [BREAKING News]
Apple Inc. said the companys co-founder Steve Jobs died Wednesday. He was 56.
In a brief statement the company said Jobs died Wednesday. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.
The Silicon Valley icon who gave the world the iPod and the iPhone resigned as CEO of the worlds largest technology corporation in August, handing the reins to current chief executive Tim Cook.
We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today, the company said in a brief statement. Steves brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.")
