I’m definitely that teacher guy who appreciates there is an appropriate time for a full range of emotions. I had a fabulous weekend, supervising a group of our National Honor Society students at the Hammond Veterans Day Parade on Saturday.
Residents of our city lined the parade route, and some gave props to the kids on our float. (“You guys are the future! My grandkids will grow up in the world you all will run. So go be great!”). That was super-uplifting to hear. It was one of the highlights of my week. But the weekends go by quick. And sometimes it’s good to lean into your melancholy on a Sunday night.
Like the meme says, you can love your job and still get the Sunday Night Blues. Honestly I’ve got a whole playlist to match the mood.
For whatever reason we’ve got a morale problem in my building this year. Three years post-consolidation and three years post-pandemic and three years into the conversion to a problem-based learning school. That’s a lot, huh? In some ways it feels like we’ve got a lot of the kinks worked out but in other areas we’ve got a whole new set of challenges to face. Regardless we all are walking under a dark cloud daily.
But that dark cloud is the leading edge of a storm. Humans evolved to be aware of danger on the horizon. And the hoofbeats are growing louder. We’ve got a referendum on the ballot on Tuesday and optimism is not high for a successful outcome.
Driving a float with some of our most dedicated and motivated students, it was hard to see these signs in front yards along the parade route on Saturday. When the opposition PACs have names like “NOPE” (acronym for “Not One Penny Extra”) you have a good idea what you are up against. I get it though. Many folks feel like the district leadership reneged on a promise to keep neighborhood schools open if a referendum was passed in 2017. The Gavit closure hit me hard too.
The state intervened and after examining the finances forced the district’s hand on closures. But referenda are not popular around here these days. And folks have long memories.
The district has tried to make its case to the city in a community presentation at my school. And the argument is compelling. But I’m also biased. The referendum amount not only would fund much-needed repairs in my building, it pays for roughly 250 teaching positions.
So you can imagine why a lot of folks are walking on eggshells. And I’ll be honest. I switched districts for a while while my youngest son was in high school and came back for the final year at my longtime school. Officially my seniority only counts the years since I’ve been back. When your district is faced with cutting 25% of its teaching staff I’m not even very sure of where the cut line lies. Am I safe? Good thing I just updated my resume for a fellowship opportunity, right? And I’ve got admin friends in surrounding communities?
But wait. There’s more.
Contract negotiations are contentious in my district this year. Obviously. I mean if we are counting on a referendum to fund teaching positions there is clearly not a pile of cash laying around for things like raises. And insurance costs continue to ratchet up. The deadline for avoiding arbitration on contract talks is November 15. Meaning we could face a one-two punch of a failed referendum and a contract which presents an effective pay cut (factoring in an insurance premium increase) within the space of 8 days. Teacher Appreciation, yo!
Would you stay? Lines from an old April Wine tune are in my head:
Lightning smokes on the hill arise
https://genius.com/April-wine-sign-of-the-gypsy-queen-lyrics
Brought the man with the warning light
Shouting loud, “You had better fly!”
While the darkness can help you hide
Trouble’s comin’ without control
No-one’s stayin’ that’s got a hope
Hurricane at the very least
In the words of the gypsy queen
“No one’s staying that’s got a hope”. In an era of rampant teacher shortages everybody has to feel like they can go to the next district over and get hired in a heartbeat.
I’m far enough along in my career that there’s no point in making a move. I’ve got like 10 years left. Plus, I love my colleagues and my kids and my city and my district. I’m here for the duration. But a lot of the folks I see in the hallway every day? I couldn’t blame them for making a jump.
I know the district and building level leadership are already working on the messaging for the faculty meeting next week (two days after the referendum vote). But I think they need to be aware of the contact arbitration day as well.
Nothing admin can say will soften the blow of what’s to come.
But they can’t say nothing, either.
I want our leadership to get out in front of this wave. I feel like they will. But I’m still not super-excited to see what the back side of the next two weeks is going to look like.
Like our football kids say, We All We Got.
I’m counting on that being enough.
Tweaking For No Reason 