After reports of teachers being laid off, Fall River Interim Superintendent clarifies letters sent were not layoff notices

Fall River Reporter had been told that layoffs were taking place in Fall River schools with at least 14 at Talbot alone. We contacted Fall River Public Schools for clarification and Interim Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith issued a letter stating that they were not in fact layoffs.

The letter is as follows:

“Recently, Fall River Public Schools sent letters to educators who are currently working under licensure waivers or whose licensure status requires review. These letters are not layoff notices. Rather, they are a standard part of the district’s responsibility to ensure that all educators meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) licensure requirements and make progress toward full certification.

Each and every employee of Fall River Public Schools is valued, and we thank them for their commitment to our students and families. We have more than 1,000 educators serving our schools, and we know we have highly qualified, dedicated professionals throughout our district. Our goal is to keep teachers in our classrooms while supporting them through the licensure process.

As part of our annual review, our Human Resources Department examined licensure statuses and waiver requirements. The letters sent ask educators to provide updates on where they are in the certification process, whether they have recently taken or are preparing to take the MTEL, are completing coursework, earning advanced degrees, or pursuing other licensure requirements.

Within days of the letters being sent, many educators had already provided updates demonstrating progress toward certification. As long as educators are actively working toward meeting licensure requirements, we will continue to support them. This includes assisting with waiver applications and working closely with principals, school leaders, and the Fall River Educators Association to help employees remain in Fall River Public Schools.

School districts across Massachusetts are required to ensure that appropriately licensed educators are in our classrooms. This process is about accountability and maintaining a highly qualified workforce for our students. When districts hire educators under waivers, the expectation is that they will continue progressing toward full certification, and we are committed to helping them do so.

We remain committed to supporting every educator who is working toward licensure, and we will continue to work collaboratively with our staff, principals, and union partners to ensure our teachers have the resources they need to succeed. Our focus remains on providing students with highly qualified teachers and maintaining a strong, certified teaching workforce for years to come.”