By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Hundreds of Providence teachers staged a march and rally Tuesday, to express their unhappiness with the state takeover of their school district, and the slow pace of contract talks.

Several hundred teachers gathered outside the State House, where the President of the Providence Teachers Union, Maribeth Calabro said that they are upset with their treatment by State Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and Providence School Superintendent Harrison Peters.

“We have heard from parents. We have heard from teachers. We have heard from our own students. This is not working,” Calabro said into a bullhorn.

“This takeover is an abject failure. I said it last week and I will say it again,” to the applause of teachers. She said the union wants lawmakers to override the state takeover of Providence schools, and return management to the city.

The group marched to the Rhode Island Department of Education offices on Westminster Street, where other teachers shared the bullhorn, outlining their demands in the ongoing contract talks.