Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't checked in for the year but it's been ridiculously busy since school started 2 weeks ago as I have a couple of kids that needed regular assessments/treatments along with every other student the teachers want to get rid of for a few minutes! As you all know, getting vaccines, medication orders, emergency meds, etc. etc. in order is a job in and of itself, add in the steady flow of band aids and ice bags and there is no down-time! Which brings me to the meeting I had with my boss on Monday....
My boss sits me down to report that because enrollment is lower this year (540/606) and with district budget cuts she is going to have to send $200,000 back to the district and has to make cuts. She goes on to say because educating the children is the priority, teachers are the last option when reducing the budget. That leads them to me, the nurse, who is on a teacher salary contract. She insisted she did not want to lose me completely, and asked if I'd be willing to stay, but switch from a yearly teacher contract position, to an hourly nurse at 20 hours a week. I let her know immediately that I can't make that choice unilaterally without speaking with my husband. I also told her that as a nurse, I can work hourly anywhere, and one of the true benefits of working for the district is the benefits of the paid time off, which I would lose immediately if I go hourly. She agreed that if I decided that hourly wouldn't work for me, she'd release me from my contract to pursue full time employment at another school. She reiterated not wanting to lose me completely, but they can't afford to pay me more than 20 hours a week.
All week long I was running like a chicken with it's head cut off from the beginning of the day right up until the end. It solidified my decision NOT to accept only 20 hours a week at this school, because IT'S A FULL TIME JOB. There is no way I can get what needs to be done, done in 20 hours a week.
The district has several opening I'm going to put an app into. There is also a high school with an opening-- is the adjustment from ele to high school a huge one? I'm a bit scared to make that jump, but I also want to get a job, so I don't want to ignore possible employment opportunities.
Any advice, thoughts, prayers, support will be happily accepted!
