It's been one week since you looked at me...

So as I looked at my blog, I realized it's been just over one week since I started this thing. It's actually tougher than I thought it would be to come up with posts. I've found I'm constantly going back and forth from what I actually want to write, and trying to figure out what people would actually want to read. (Whoever those "people" may be...)

I haven't posted since Tuesday because it turned into one of those weeks that was pretty calm at the start and turned into a whirlwind. One of those whirlwinds you don't know if it's going to last a week and subside on the spot, or push you into a hurricane.

So what kind of storm do we have coming in?

As you may know I'm a teacher, and 'tis the season for school budgets.

Long story short, the school department wanted an increase, the city council said no. The school department stayed with their original number, and the city told them to cut a couple million. This new number does not meet the state minimum, which would then penalize the schools by a few more million plus the first couple million.

Cue in the school department with the cuts that would have to happen in order to make this number meet... one of which being at least two positions at my school. (Among 7 billion other things like all sports at the high school and middle school, full day kindergarten to half day, 4 day school weeks, etc) And that's with the school department only coming up with half of the money required. The personal kicker is that I was the very last hire at my school. They filled no new positions this year, and I was a late hire into the year last year.

This all happened on Wednesday. Let the whirlwind begin. Myself, the hubby, and my good friend Katie went to the school board meeting on Wednesday to have a presence and to get the details straight. I'm super happy we went because I think I have a better idea as to what is going on.

So, these were just proposals from the school department. The next step is it goes to the City Council on Monday. The City Council will either say, "Whoah, we didn't realize the state would cut so much, let's figure something else out." Or they'll say, "Yep, totally meant to do that. Let's put it up to a city vote."

I have no way of predicting what's going to happen on Monday or even after that. All I know is when you're low man on the totem pole you've got to pay attention. So that's what I'll be doing on Monday night. Either with my eyes peeled to the  my tv screen or at the town hall itself.

I have been having a lot of conversations. With my husband. With my parents. With other teachers. (New and ripened.)  With friends.

And which conversations helped me keep my head on straight the rest of the week without breaking down in the middle of the day over not having enough handouts?

The kids. Those kids saved me this week.

I may talk in the future about how 12, 13, and 14 year olds are sometimes exhausting. How they take a lot of energy. About how they're still figuring out who they are and sometimes have a hard time using their manners or just sitting down.

But, there's something about a young teenager picking up a paper, looking at the newest news on the budget, and coming over and asking you to explain it because they're concerned. There's something about them asking who's going to be let go if this all happens, and when you say there's no way for anyone to know, they make a face and say, "Well that's not fair because all of the teachers here are good." There's something about the students coming into class, and simply just getting to work. No talking about what's going on, no small talk about "what they've heard" or "what's happened in the past". Just doing what they need to do and smiling while they do it. Because in a way, I think they can sense that at that moment, that is exactly what you need from them.

Because my students could fill that role for me this week, I have been able to put some sort of positive spin on the situation. And while I haven't completely found my happy on this one, I have in a way found a little bit of peace.

If this is the calm before the storm, then once it starts to pour I know I have enough support and love around me to head in a different direction.

But, if those clouds were just a red herring and decide to open up to let some sunshine in so I can continue on with the journey that I'm on with this district uninterrupted, then I'll be happy to smile and walk on.

Either way, those clouds will have to do something.

I have a feeling, I can react just fine to whatever they may bring.




Credit for Photos go to:
Jennifer Ellison at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net