Woonsocket Schools Won't Close Early

Woonsocket public schools will stay open another three months, and teachers and other staff will continue receiving paychecks, despite the city's dire financial straits.  

At Wednesday night's meeting, the School Committee voted unanimously to scrap a plan to end the school year on April 6, saying they now believe the state will step in to pay the bills when the city's cash runs out, which is expected to happen in a few weeks.

"To close our schools down would be to tell our students they don't deserve an education," said committee member Vimala Phongsavanh. "I can't be the one to deny our seniors the chance to get into college."

"This was just a scare tactic," added committee member John Donlon. "I'm not proud it was put up here."

More than 500 people, many of them waving signs, turned out for the meeting in the Hamlet Middle School cafeteria. The size of the crowd meant that many had to sit in a nearby gymnasium, where chairs were set up and the televised proceedings were projected onto a large screen. A large number of those in the audience were school employees. Many teachers wore purple T-shirts to show union solidarity, while janitors wore green.

"Closing schools won't fill your deficit," Woonsocket Teachers Guild president Jeff Partington told the committee and the crowd. "It will put students at a disadvantage, and put teachers in the unemployment line." The crowd responded with applause and loud cheers.

A smattering of anti-tax protestors were also on hand. Michellina Cole waved a large sign reading "02895, but taxed like 90210," referring to the zip codes for Woonsocket and Beverly Hills, respectively.

An estimated $10 million shortfall in the school department budget now has the city of Woonsocket teetering toward municipal bankruptcy. City Hall officials are expected to send out supplemental tax bills sometime in the next few weeks to refill the municipal coffers, but have yet to officially approve that plan, or even discuss it at length. Cash is expected to run out before then.

School Committee members say they proposed ending the school year three months early only because they were uncertain if there would be
financial help from the state.

"Our fear was that checks would be bouncing," said School Committee Chairwoman Anita McGuire Forcier. "If people don't get paid, they won't show up for work. I don't want to send children to schools where there are no adults to supervise them."

Over the past few days, Gov. Lincoln Chafee and other Statehouse leaders have said that won't happen. In the next few weeks they plan to turn over state aid the city originally was to receive in June. After that, the School Committee’s plan calls for using money generated by supplemental tax bills.

No one can say for sure, however, if that plan will work. State officials have said they first want more information as to how the School Committee will straighten out the financial mess. And Mayor Leo Fontaine and the City Council have yet to approve sending taxpayers those additional bills.

School Committee members have also learned that closing schools in April would be illegal. State law requires every city and town to provide students with 180 days of school every year. The school year can be shortened by two weeks for health concerns, but not for financial reasons. The 180th day of Woonsocket's school year is June 13.

School Department attorney Richard Ackerman reminded the committee of those legal requirements Wednesday night. "We would be exposed to liability if we fail to comply with certain state and federal mandates," he said.

Dozens of people spoke during the three-hour meeting, often to loud cheers from the crowd.

Tom Lambert, who heads the union local that represents school janitors, told the committee his members may be willing to renegotiate portions of their contract, but added they face a financial squeeze, too. "More than 70 percent of my members live in this city," he said. "If more concessions are demanded and they get supplemental tax bills, they'll be hit twice."

Tommie Roy, who identified herself as a teacher and city resident, urged the committee to refrain from making pay cuts. "By taking money from me, you could be looking at another foreclosed home in Woonsocket," she said.

"Is Mayor Fontaine going to take a pay cut, too," asked Diane Hansen, another school department employee.

"You're using our children's education as a hostage," added parent Kelly Hebert. "You have no right to do that."

Darren Cooper, a payroll specialist with the school department, castigated committee members and others who have blamed the budget crisis on former school business manager Stacy Busby, now on leave without pay, and former superintendent Robert Gerardi, who now holds the same title in Maynard, MA. "They are not criminals," Cooper said.