School closures...

[KKEGS]

Not of the snowy variety. But closing a school due to budget deficits.

Our district received an email today that an item will be placed on the school board agenda for this week to discuss the possible closure of an elementary school. The school is the one that my daughters attend and the one at which I currently work. To say I am devastated would be an understatement. I have already ugly cried 3 times today. I am so sad.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

I am so sorry to hear this for you and your kids. My daughter went to a Montessori school and I am so thankful for it. She transferred to an IB school for elementary and then I homeschooled her from 6th grade to graduation. She did well in the IB school, however her 5th grade teacher was regularly reprimanded for providing her and 3 other little girls that attended the same Montessori school with "advanced" work above their "gifted" program. I hope the community pulls together to keep the school open!

The school we would go to instead is an IB school. It's a small school (although still more than double our current school) but has a good reputation. It wouldn't be a bad option at all. I still hope it doesn't come to that. I love our little school.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Ugh..sorry to hear of that

[peacockblue]

What is an IB school?

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

What is an IB school?

International Baccalaureate. Offers accelerated (AP) classwork which may allow those kids who participate (if they take the requisite test) to use that as a college class.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

International Baccalaureate. Offers accelerated (AP) classwork which may allow those kids who participate (if they take the requisite test) to use that as a college class.

There are also Primary Years IB schools whose educational philosophy aims to expose kids to local and global issues and learn critical thinking and real life concepts.

[audreysmagic, RN]

There are also Primary Years IB schools whose educational philosophy aims to expose kids to local and global issues and learn critical thinking and real life concepts.

I worked at one of these as a 1:1 nurse for a diabetic student...LOVED IT. We had the "theme of the month," one of the critical IB concepts, and students focused on that in their coursework, like Kindness Month, and it was just really great. It was also really exciting because the school was in a wealthy district, but public housing had just gone up at the edge of the district. There was a lot of pearl-clutching from residents, naturally, but I was really excited that these kids with less means were going to be getting the same high-quality education as their wealthier peers.

So sorry to hear about your closure issue, though, KKEGS. Doubly worrying, for both employment and your kiddo. We've faced a lot of school closures and cuts in my district (Chicago - we're big enough, alas, to be in the news for our ongoing school drama), one of the reasons I got out of the schools when I did. It's stressful, but hoping whatever happens, it's a good resolution for you and your family.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

Thanks everyone for your kind words and prayers. We are rallying our resources to see if we can stop this closure from happening. In talking with our building nurse, the PTSA president and the principal apparently we have been in this position before and we have won before so...I'm cautiously optimistic. If we do close, although I will be very sad, I know that we have other good options for my kids.

In other news tomorrow is what our district calls Pink Slip Day where probationary employees (3 years of employment or less) find out if their contract will be renewed or not. I will not be at all surprised if my position is cut but I was planning to leave the district after this school year and return to the hospital anyway. So I'm not worried about my employment status but about the employment status of my colleagues and friends. Our guidance counselor and one of our building nurses are expecting to lose their jobs tomorrow. Then the names are announced and approved tomorrow night at the school board meeting. This meeting tomorrow is also when Montessori will be put on the chopping block. On Friday we meet with the superintendent to hear specifics of how many were cut and what other cuts are to be made. It's going to be a sucky, sucky week.

Tonight I have been invited to meet with the PTSA board to discuss stratetgy for fighting the Montessori closure. Next week is our regular PTSA meeting where we are expecting a big turnout to go over specifics of what individuals can do to help our cause. Our principal is being amazingly supportive and, although she is in a precarious position and can't be too public with her support, she is trying to help us in any way she can.

So please, please, please keep sending thoughts and prayers and good vibes that we can manage to save this special school yet again.

Oh wow, you have so many things going on right now- hugs to you. It must be so hard for everyone not knowing if they will have a job after tomorrow. Sending positive thoughts your way.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

UPDATE: For those who were following our whole saga with potentially closing an elementary school (the one my daughters attend) well...we're STILL waiting to find out. The original plan was for the school board to vote on May 3. Due to a "glitch" that prevented the public hearing from being published twice in the newspaper (a legal requirement) the second public hearing and vote is now May 17th. That is in 2 days and only 4 days from the end of our school year.

My husband, daughters and I toured another elementary school last week and it's a perfectly nice little school but I just felt sick to my stomach the whole time because I didn't want to be there. We love our little Montessori school and want desperately to stay.

In the last month the PTSA, our principal and myself have been working tirelessly to encourage parents and community members to speak up, speak out and let the board know how they feel and how much this community would be losing by closing this school. We polled families and reported to the board that 49 students would leave the district if this school was closed. Since those students would each take state per-pupil funding with them the district will lose money instead of saving money with this school closing.

I would appreciate prayers, good mojo, whatever you can offer over the next couple of days as we learn the fate of our school. I would return here in the fall (we share a building with early childhood programming as well as our alternative high school) but it won't be the same without my kids in the hallways.

[Glitternurse, LVN]

Sending prayers and keeping my fingers and toes crossed

[WineRN]

Sending all the prayers and good vibes your way.

Fingers, toes, and everything else crossed. Being in limbo is so hard.