BOSTON -- The U.S. Secretary of Education applauded a decision to fire the entire teaching staff of a Rhode Island school.

NewsCenter 5's Liz Brunner explains reported that the decision gets failing grades from some parents and teachers.

"I've been at Central Falls for 28 years, and I've done nothing to deserve to be fired, absolutely nothing. I've given my heart and soul to my job," Central Falls teacher and Athletic Director Kathy Luther said.

Teachers said they were simply dumbfounded after the school board voted to fire the entire teaching staff.

"I'm at school every day, always available. I'm heartbroken. I would do anything for this school system. I've done everything I can," teacher Frank Delbonis said.

Even a last-ditch rally to stop the unprecedented layoffs was of no use.

"They are all excellent teachers. They have been doing their jobs and everything else," parent Jane Higgins said.

"It's not motivating me to come to school anymore," student Kelyn Salazar said.

Central Falls is one of the worst performing schools in the state. Only about half of the students graduate, and only 7 percent of its 11th-graders are proficient in math.

Based on a federal effort to makeover failing schools, the state's education commissioner gave the school four options to fix itself: require a longer school day, turn it into a charter school, fire the entire teaching staff or close the school.

After union talks broke down over money, the superintendent decided pink slips at the end of the year was her only option.

"We have a serious problem when you have a 48-percent graduation rate. We lose more children than we graduate and that's inappropriate," Central Falls superintendent Frances Gallo said.