34 Teachers Reportedly Sent Layoff Notices

During Tuesday night’s school committee meeting, member unanimously, and begrudgingly, approved sending layoff notices to Newport teachers.

According to a report by the Providence Journal, which references The Newport Daily News, 34 teachers received notices.

“It’s about time they stop this angst and unneeded stress on teachers by having a date this early when the budgets have not been set and enrollment is unknown,” School Committee Chair Patrick Kelley said .

Kelley said recommending the layoffs was for a “worst case scenario” to protect the district.

Superintendent John Ambrogi called the timing of issuing the layoffs “unconscionable,” while the committee discussed their wishes to move layoff deadline to later in the year.

State law requires districts to send in their layoff notices by March 1.