Reality 101: CEC's blog for new teachers

Jessica: Budget Woes for Rural Schools

California is currently reviewing possible educational budget cuts and the last few staff meetings of the year included discussions on how we will be tightening the financial belt for the 2012-13 school year.

One thing that upsets me is that our budget seems to be determined by people who know little about the needs of a rural school. For example, our school district, and all the school districts of California, lost their transportation funding halfway through the 2011-2012 school year. Every school needs transportation funding, but a rural school cannot go without it. Rural busing is one of the district’s highest costs because students sometimes live 10-20 miles away from their schools, and putting the cost of gas and driving strain on the parents may literally cost more than rural families can afford.

Melissa: Uncommon

As many of you know, my students and I have been on the same path together for two years. Now there is a possibility that my lane will end, while theirs continues on.

When I was offered my current job, I was given the choice of two positions. One was a permanent, mainly co-teaching position. The other one, the one they really wanted me to take, was the self-contained autism spectrum disorders teacher, a new position that was only guaranteed for two years because it was funded by economic stimulus dollars.

Being the crazy idealist that I am, I took the ASD teaching position because I truly felt (and continue to feel) that was what God wanted for me. Do I ever regret not taking the other position? Nope. Not even a little bit. I have had such a blast these past two school years, I wouldn’t trade it for the added security.

Also—not that I am even close to being the world’s best teacher—I think I am who my students needed. Our personalities just mesh. We like each other. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t have at least one episode of laugh-until-I-cry over something hilarious one of my students says, or an oh-my-gosh-they-are-SO-smart moment when I am just blown away by their deeply intelligent thoughts and questions. We’re just a match made in heaven.

But now there’s a chance we’ll have to break up. It makes me sad not just for myself, but for my students. I really do love these guys. Who’s going to take care of them next year if there’s no one in my position? Who will advocate for them to get what they need? Who will make sure their accommodations are being carried out and working for them in the general ed classrooms? Who will be their soft place to land when they need it, and who will push them out of the nest when that’s what they need? I want it to be me, darn it!

People ask me every day if I’ve heard whether I have a job next year. I’ve decided to stop worrying about it. Do I check the job listings in neighboring districts? Yes, and it makes me sad. I feel I am where I belong. I don’t want to start over somewhere else.

Melissa: Growing Pains

Normally it doesn’t bother me when my students ask a question to which I do not know the answer. It’s not unusual to hear me say, “I don’t know. Let’s look it up!” It’s an instant teachable moment; just add Google.

But last week a student asked me a question that neither I nor Google could answer. The question: Why is there going to be another vote for new schools in our district?

The school where I teach is packed to the gills. In fact, just about every school in my district is full or over capacity. This is not too surprising, considering that the city’s population has grown 73% over the past decade. In order to build more schools, voters need to pass a referendum that will increase property taxes. The city has voted against the referendum twice already, and chance number three is coming up for a vote in May. As both a teacher and a parent, I am praying it passes.

As a teacher, I find this very frustrating. Education is a NEED; it’s not some fancy indulgence. When the city needs a new road or additional police officers or fire fighters, there is no public vote — it just happens. But when schools need additional resources, everyone has to agree.

As a parent, I am concerned that my son might be in a very large class when he starts kindergarten. Will he need to be bussed to a far-away school, where there’s room? Will the district need to redraw school boundaries to finagle kids around?

Some people argue that the school board is asking for too much, that the schools are going overboard. I can assure you, I don’t have a jewel-encrusted throne at my desk, and there is no concierge that delivers lobster tails to the staff for lunch. In fact, teachers at my school struggle to get computer access for their classes, students have been bussed to other buildings for gym class because there simply isn’t enough space, and one hallway is actually used to hold classes. That’s right, we ran out of actual classrooms.

Jennifer: A Byproduct of Budget Cuts

I have to admit, although I am overjoyed at my new job and absolutely love my work, the looming discussion of budget cuts is making me a nervous wreck. It has definitely affected me, not only in how much money I’ve been putting away lately and how much spending I have personally cut back on, but in the decisions I make for my class as well.

Last summer, I spoke with so many teachers who had gotten pink-slipped. They all had thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of learning materials stored away in their garages—materials they had purchased themselves. Some of those teachers were unable to find jobs again or changed careers altogether; of the ones who were lucky enough to find new employment, some were unable to get the same placement or grade level as before and had to go out and buy all new stuff. Granted, most districts supply their teachers with money to help them supplement curriculum materials, but the budgets aren’t necessarily huge and sometimes teachers are forced to go way out of their way and wallet to get materials that their students really need.

Kathy: Help!

Our school just announced another round of budget cuts. This round was deep and we are still smarting from it. Teachers with master’s degrees have taken a $5,000 pay cut. Classroom budgets were slashed from $1,000 to $500 each (we purchase all our own materials and prepare our own curriculum). All professional development has been frozen.

My boss, the job coach coordinator, had her schedule cut to three days a week at a loss of 40% of her salary. She is the glue that holds 20 job coaches and their training sites together. Our principal now works only four days a week and I am assuming she took a 20% pay cut. One office staff person lost a day a week as well. The job coaches—that’s me—also had their day shortened, mine by one half-hour (we are paid an hourly rate). All staff must be out of the building by 4 p.m. to save on electricity. There are other smaller cuts as well.