D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee on Friday fired 98 central office employees, who in some cases were escorted out of their offices by law enforcement, sources said.

The terminations were a direct result of D.C. Council legislation giving Rhee the power to get rid of workers judged to be underperforming.

That law change effectively made 393 administrative employees susceptible to being ousted.

Mafara Hobson, spokeswoman for the chancellor, said that more firings beyond the 98 are possible.

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"Chancellor Rhee is continuing to assess the size composition of the administrative workforce," she said.

Hobson wouldn't describe the employees other than to indicate that they were "management level to administrative."

Employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the firings were widespread, but many of the terminated employees came from the informationtechnology office, which was essentially dismantled because it duplicated services provided by the city's technology department.

Those who lost their jobs reportedly received e-mails Friday asking them to meet with members of Rhee's staff. From there, they received letters giving them 15-day notice of their "separation from service" and granting them severance packages. They will continue to be paid as full-time employees through March 22.

The letters, which The Examiner viewed, also instructed them to take their personal items and immediately turn over keys, security badges and all other related materials.

One 20-year employee who was fired said he witnessed colleagues crying as they read their letters. He also saw a female worker only weeks from giving birth escorted out of the building by police.

And he added that it especially "stung" to get a flier advertising the mayor's employment fair along with his termination letter.

"As a professional, to be subjected to the humiliation of being removed, it's as if you are a criminal," the man said as he packed up boxes. "[Those fired] represent the finest quality workers that DCPS ever had."

Another employee, who was spared in the firings, said she feared the loss of institutional knowledge, especially with regards to the technology office, which is engaged in a number of initiatives "critical to the reform."

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com