In a ritual as sere and overdetermined as Noh drama, the Portsmouth School Committee this evening underwent their yearly "predeprivation proceeding," or in common parlance, sent pink slips to 32 teachers.

L-R Chair Sylvia Wedge, Terri Cortvriend, Attorney Richard Updegrove, Jamie Heaney, Superintendent Sue Lulsi, Asst. Sup. Colleen Jermain.

First, Superintendent Lusi explained the context for the proceeding. "This is a recommendation regarding reduction in force. We do not submit our budget until March 25, it isn't voted on until June. We end up laying off some teachers that we end up calling back, simply because of the uncertainty, and because we can't lay off after March 1." Then, she delivered the bottom line: "The total number is 32."

School Department Attorney Richard Updegrove joined the committee and read through the legal preamble. "Tonight's meeting is a predeprivation proceeding. The action does not actually occur until the end of the school year. No questions are permitted. Members of the public may make a brief statement. Pursuant to RI Law, we will not report the names of teachers. Please do not make any comments about individual employees."

Then, in solemn sequence, the committee heard, moved, and voted approval to lay off teachers in several categories: 6 long-term subs. 5 one-year positions. 2 positions with less than 135 days, hence no seniority or right of recall. 7 regular full-time teachers "due to declining enrollment and the uncertainty of state and local funds, and to operate within the total budget for school operations." 10 displacements. 2 one-year positions who will be displaced and subject to involuntary transfer.

With the repetitive legal recitation accompanying each announcement, the mind begins to reel. It all becomes absurd and bewildering. This immense formality, carried out by participants for whom this is clearly not the desired outcome, but whose hands are tied by the law. We have hundreds of billions of dollars to go fight a mindless war, but not enough to pay these people who have been teaching, coaching, encouraging, and developing our children. A formal vote, and someone's teacher — maybe your child's teacher — is going to be sitting at home staring at a pink slip.

There's a moment at the end of one of the finest Western dramas, A Man for All Seasons, where the Common Man slips back into the darkened stage after Thomas More is beheaded. "I'm breathing," he says to the audience, "Are you breathing too?" Meaning that we have survived the tragedy we just witnessed. We're alive. But that sure as hell doesn't make us sanguine about it. Nor should it ever.

Finance subcommittee chair Dick Carpender said as much of what I was thinking as was probably legally permissible. "Every year we do this, we all go through the angst [of layoffs], given the economic climate that we reside in. I hope that these individuals will have their positions reinstated if funds are available."

Portsmouth NEA leader Carol Feather rose to respond. "I want to thank the Superintendent and the committee for your remarks regarding layoffs. We appreciate it."

I too hope that the layoffs turn out to be the ritual variety, but with the state's finances, and the crushing insanity of S3050, who knows where we'll be in June. It was a depressing little performance. Not as grim as Sweeny Todd, perhaps. Less blood, anyway. Sigh.

In other news this evening, Portsmouth High School principal Robert Littlefield has been named the RI High School Principal of the Year. I'm sure more detail to follow, and a much cheerier post.

There was a report by Finance Director Chris Tague which shows that the schools may be looking at a revenue shortfall of up to $240K due to state aid and Little Compton tuition numbers both coming in low. For this reason, said Dr. Lusi, she had drafted a letter to Town Administrator Bob Driscoll, responding to the request to transfer some money from the health insurance and 2006-2007 balances over to the Town. "We are sympathetic to the town's needs," said Lusi, "However, because of the revenue shortfalls, we don't feel it prudent to turn the funds back to the town when we may need to use them to balance our budget this year." Expect this to come up at the combined budget meeting tomorrow night. (6:30 at Town Hall)

The long-discussed changes to the building use fees were approved. Lusi made a point of thanking the members of the community who had worked with the policy subcommittee to get to an acceptable resolution.

And a new Facilities committee, led by Michael Buddemeyer, was formed to look at the school facilities and identify needs, develop upgrade plans, and think ways of supporting ongoing maintenance. The school committee approved the charter for the group, as well as the 3 members of the public who will be working with Buddemeyer: Sonny Grande, Steven Forand, and me.

Two notes are in order here. First, I want to compliment committee member Jamie Heaney. He not only voted to put me on the committee, he made a point of thanking me for attending one of the facilities tours. He was far more gentlemanly than I had any right to expect, given some of the tough things I've said about him, and he deserves a word of thanks. Jamie, you're a mensch.

Second, I'm in the awkward position of reporting about myself. So don't expect to see me blog about the facility committee's work, until we work out appropriate ground rules and expectations. This constitutes public service, minor as it is, and I'll be wearing a different hat.

Or perhaps, to bring us back to our theatrical metaphor, a different mask.