Students protest after 56 PPSD teachers receive non-renewal notices

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence Public School District students walked out of class Tuesday afternoon, demanding answers from the school district after 56 teachers received non-renewal notices last week.

“We want to have more transparency with the PPSD budget,” Julianna Bridgette Espinal, one of the student organizers of the walk-out said. “Where is this money going?”

This is all coming as the school district plans to merge 360 High School with Juanita Sanchez, a move that’s already spurred other student protests in the past.

One student said one of his favorite teachers was among those who received a non-renewal notice.

“It kind of hurts. Throughout the entire school year, he has helped me through civics,” Classical High School freshman Bryan Oliva said. “Compared to the other teachers at Classical, he is definitely up there.”

A spokesperson for Providence Schools said in statement that the administration regrets having to make cuts, but added that difficult decisions need to be made because of financial strain.

District leaders also said the City of Providence is failing to meet its funding obligations to the district, making hard decisions like this a reality.

“Personally, one of my teachers was only about 20 days away from getting approved for tenure,” Espinal said. “It came as a shock, and the fact that it happened so close to the end of the school year is disheartening. We are all shocked and surprised.”

The students who protested Tuesday said they are also planning to speak at Wednesday’s school board meeting.

According to the school district, they will be marked for skipping class today and have to make up their work.