Ending Seniority Hiring & Bumping in Providence Public Schools

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    n/a
  • Send To:
    Providence Teachers Union
  • Sponsored By:
    Young Voices, East Side Public Education Coalition (ESPEC), Providence Excellence in Education Coalition (PEEC)
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To: Steven Smith
President, Providence Teachers Union

Dear Mr. Smith:

We are Providence students, parents and residents. We value the contributions of Providence public school teachers. We know that high quality teachers are a critical part of a high quality education.

We believe that a teachers length of service is a relevant factor in determining the teachers quality and suitability for a position. We also believe that many other factors besides seniority determine teacher quality. The best teacher is not necessarily the most senior teacher.

We believe the seniority system, with its bumping rules, harms the quality of education. For that reason, we support the Rhode Island Education Commissioners Order requiring criterion-based teacher assignments (hiring and assigning teachers based on an interview process and an evaluation of their qualifications), and we support the plan of the Providence School Department to comply with that Order.

We are dismayed that the Providence Teachers Union has responded by filing a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the Commissioners Order and restore seniority as the only basis for teacher assignments.

We believe your lawsuit will harm the public interest by reducing the quality of education for the children of Providence. Hiring and assigning teachers based on seniority alone, and the bumping that results, are not in the best interests of students.

We therefore urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to withdraw the lawsuit immediately and redirect your efforts to collaborate with the Providence School Department to provide the best possible education for our children. Thank you for your consideration.

487 Signatures

  • Samuel D Zurier
    • Comments
    • I am a parent of three children in the Providence Public Schools
    • Address, zip code
    • 330 Grotto Avenue, Providence, RI 02906
  • Cliff Wood
    • Address, zip code
    • 299 Doyle Ave, Providence 02906
  • Karina Holyoak Wood
    • Comments
    • Providence public school parent
    • Address, zip code
    • 299 Doyle Ave., Providence, RI 02906
  • Alden Bumstead
    • Comments
    • Public school parent and PTO co-president
    • Address, zip code
    • 470 Lloyd Ave, 02906
  • Bill Mott
    • Comments
    • parent of two in Prov public schools
    • Address, zip code
    • 357 Cole Ave 02906
  • Stephanie Mott
    • Address, zip code
    • 357 Cole Ave 02906
  • Harlan Rich
    • Comments
    • 4 kids in PPSD schools all adversely affected at one time or another by bumping
    • Address, zip code
    • 02906
  • Lucia Gill Case
    • Comments
    • "Bumping" bumps kids' needs out of the way to benefit adults
    • Address, zip code
    • 141 Morris Avenue, 02906
  • Richard Streitfeld
    • Address, zip code
    • 536 Hope Street, Providence RI 02906
  • Peter Gill Case
    • Comments
    • public school parent
    • Address, zip code
    • 141 Morris Avenue, 02906
  • Elizabeth Rau
    • Address, zip code
    • 75 Irving Avenue, 02906
  • Gregory Wallace
    • Address, zip code
    • 37 Dexterdale Rd Providence, RI 02906
  • Dave Feit
    • Comments
    • parent
    • Address, zip code
    • 179 10th St, 02906
  • Warren Licht
    • Comments
    • Parent (Bumping should "poof" disappear; it's disappearance would immediately improve teaching quality in the school system; and its existence has only been harmful to our children's education)
    • Address, zip code
    • 02906-4629
  • Bob Bozikowski
    • Comments
    • Stop this crazy bumping!!!
    • Address, zip code
    • 33 Hart Street, 02906
  • Jen Iwasyk
    • Comments
    • Bumping hurts our kids
    • Address, zip code
    • 33 Hart Street, 02906
  • Alan Harlam
    • Comments
    • Concerned citizen - please put students first!
    • Address, zip code
    • 73 Manning Street, Providence, RI 02906
  • Jeffrey P Cavanaugh
    • Comments
    • Providence Parent
    • Address, zip code
    • 108 Burlington St. 02906
  • Norman Reno
    • Comments
    • NO BUMPING
    • Address, zip code
    • 194 Lorimer Ave, Providence 02906
  • RENA RENO
    • Comments
    • NO BUMPING
    • Address, zip code
    • 194 Lorimer Ave, Providence 02906
  • Robert Kumins
    • Address, zip code
    • 4 Cole Farm Court, Providence, RI 02906
  • Zhana Tumanyan
    • Comments
    • Teacher Placement by quality not seniority
    • Address, zip code
    • 194 Lorimer Ave, Providence 02906
  • Julia Tumanyan
    • Comments
    • Teacher Placement by quality not seniority
    • Address, zip code
    • 194 Lorimer Ave, Providence 02906
  • Joshua Reno
    • Comments
    • Teacher Placement by quality not senority
    • Address, zip code
    • 194 Lorimer Ave, Providence 02906
  • carla ferrari ibelle
    • Comments
    • this is the most important issue that interferes with progress in the prov public schools!!!
    • Address, zip code
    • 28 memorial rd. 02906
  • Jill Davidson
    • Comments
    • Experience is an important factor in teacher quality, but not the only one. I strongly support teachers unions and look forward to the PTU finding ways to be a leader in improving teacher quality in Providence.
    • Address, zip code
    • 02906
  • Jill Davidson
    • Comments
    • Experience is an important factor in teacher quality, but not the only one. I strongly support teachers unions and look forward to the PTU finding ways to be a leader in improving teacher quality in Providence.
    • Address, zip code
    • 02906
  • Patricia C. Henry
    • Comments
    • No Bumping!
    • Address, zip code
    • 21 Boylston Avenue, Providence, RI 02906
  • Wayne Franklin
    • Address, zip code
    • 130 Upton Ave., Providence, 02906
  • Walter Callender
    • Comments
    • В
    • Address, zip code
    • 198 laurel ave , 02906
  • Thomas Gardos
    • Address, zip code
    • 2 Catalpa Rd., Providence, RI 02906
  • Josefina B. Callender
    • Comments
    • It is vital to act on this now!
    • Address, zip code
    • 198 Laurel Ave Providence RI 02906
  • Karen Welser
    • Address, zip code
    • 264 Doyle Ave., 02906
  • James L. Van
    • Comments
    • I know teachers face a number of challenges in the Prov. system, but bumping is an archaic practice designed to ensure that those who've merely survived for a long time fill positions for which they often are not qualified.....
    • Address, zip code
    • 111 Irving Ave, 02906
  • Christine Kennedy
    • Comments
    • parent
    • Address, zip code
    • 31 Eames St. , 02906
  • David Moss
    • Comments
    • I agree strongly that seniority is only one among many criteria that should be used by administrators to assign teachers. I say this as an experienced teacher and former department chair.
    • Address, zip code
    • 102 Burlington St
  • isla vasquez
    • Comments
    • Some of these teachers are there for their personal gain. Our children derseve better.
    • Address, zip code
    • 02907
  • Carolyn Birnbaum
    • Address, zip code
    • 24 Summit Ave, Providence, RI 02906
  • Katharine (Kaki) Accola
    • Comments
    • I am the parent of a ten-year-old and hope to send her to Nathan Bishop next year, but will not if 'bumping' is allowed. The principal needs the ability to choose the best team.
    • Address, zip code
    • 159 Emeline Street, 02906
  • Robert Garzillo
    • Comments
    • My son is a student at Vartan Gregorian
    • Address, zip code
    • 20 Balton Road, Prov., RI, 02906
  • Amy
    • Comments
    • The teachers' response is a predictable, self-centered response to a much needed focus on the students.
    • Address, zip code
    • 168 Cypress Street, Providence, RI 02906
  • Julia Bush
    • Address, zip code
    • 59 Irving Avenue, Providence 02906
  • Laura Cavanaugh
    • Comments
    • Just look at all the other kinds of jobs that exist
    • Address, zip code
    • 02906
  • Sheila Craig
    • Comments
    • bring on the quality teachers!!- To ALL the schools!
    • Address, zip code
    • 81 Barnes St Providence RI 02906
  • Deb Herman
    • Address, zip code
    • 321 Taber Ave.
  • Kimberley B. Rohm
    • Address, zip code
    • 872 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02906
  • Eric Gardner
    • Address, zip code
    • 21 Eames St. Providence, RI 02906
  • Hannah Alderson
    • Comments
    • parent
    • Address, zip code
    • 02906
  • Lisa Brosofsky
    • Comments
    • As a parent of elementary school children, I feel this lawsuit is an unnecessarydistraction.
    • Address, zip code
    • 209 8th St., Providence, RI 02906
  • Susan Wieland
    • Address, zip code
    • 41 Brewster Street, Providence RI 02906