Cranston Teachers Can Take Good Friday Off after Union, District Reach Agreement

Cranston teachers can take Good Friday off, according to a Friday court order in a lawsuit filed by the teachers’ union last week against the school district after their leave requests were denied.

The order comes after an agreement reached between the union and the school district.

Teachers can now take the day off as long as they submit their requests no later than Tuesday and they need not worry about discipline or a pay reduction.

A full hearing is planned to determine if the holiday can be observed by teachers going forward.

Teachers sued after more than 200 were denied leave requests even though they were under the impression that they were entitled to two personal days per year for religious holidays.

In response, the school district said in a statement that Good Friday does not require the attendance of daytime services. They also noted that the Cranston Teachers’ Alliance, the teachers’ union, negotiated a salary increase for teacher assistants, technical assistants and bus aides and they gave up Good Friday as a paid holiday during the contract talks.

As a result, Superintendent Judith Lundsten said that the lawsuit came as a surprise.

School officials also said the district is grappling with six days added to the school calendar this year as a result of a string of snow days this harsh winter.