Supt who fired teachers may change mind

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. - The head of the union representing teachers fired en masse at one of Rhode Island's worst-performing high schools says it will fight to get every job back.

Jane Sessums spoke Thursday as hundreds of teachers rallied in West Warwick.

Central Falls' school board voted last month to fire Central Falls High School's faculty in a desperate move to improve student performance. President Barack Obama called the firings an example of holding struggling schools accountable.

The teachers rallied before a meeting of the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education, which sets education policy.

On Wednesday, the Central Falls superintendent said she wanted to restart talks with the union to avoid a mass firing at the end of the school year.