Newport, R.I. – The Teachers’ Association of Newport (TAN) will hold their second informational picket on Tuesday, September 3rd from 8:00am-8:30am in front of Pell Elementary School, 35 Dexter St. Newport. Tuesday is the first day of school for teachers to report, students begin their school year the following day.

Teachers picketed outside the City Council meeting on Wednesday while TAN President Jennifer Hole gave an impassioned plea inside chambers to the council members to step in to stop Superintendent Colleen Jermain from continuing to run roughshod over the teacher contract and settled labor law.

“Colleen Jermain has stripped our schools of every math interventionist, removed the reading teachers, and eliminated behavioral specialists. She and her administration are setting up the students, families, and teachers of Newport for absolute failure,” said Hole. “Rather than come together and actually try to solve problems and resolve differences, the Superintendent has dug in her heels in the interest of winning, not in the interest of our students.”

In addition to picketing, TAN is “working to contract,” meaning that teachers will only perform duties outlined within their existing contract. An informational picket is a public opportunity for Newport teachers to inform the community and amplify their concerns; it is not a job action nor is it a strike.

The Union has filed four grievances and four unfair labor practice charges as a result of multiple contract violations and several infringements of labor law.

“While we did meet throughout the summer in an attempt to reach a global settlement on all issues, the Superintendent has refused to commit to any effort to correct the multiple errors created when she imposed the job fair without the Union’s involvement,” said Hole. “These errors have had a ripple effect across the district with many teachers placed in positions they have never held before and forcing many to seek emergency certifications just to stay employed.”

In June, the Union voted no confidence in the Superintendent and Ronilee Mooney, the director of multi-lingual learners, over the Superintendent’s drastic restructuring plans. These plans were implemented without any input from teachers. Moreover, the teachers have lacked adequate support from the district to implement these restructuring plans for this school year, which will undoubtedly harm students.

“Our students deserve better,” said Hole.

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MORE: Images from the City Hall picket