Allow me to vent

[The Bad Guy]

I just need some space to rant and let off some steam. As some of you know, I was furloughed from my job 3 weeks ago as a special education teacher. I just had acquired tenure in the district, built up the program from basically scratch, and was let go because of an enormous amount of cuts in the district that initially happened in early July, but because they screwed up the seniority list, I got bumped by one spot. 3 years of sterling evaluations and the best I got was a voicemail from the superintendent saying I didn't have a job anymore.

I had an interview at another district 2 weeks ago and it went well. They had called my principal that was at my old school and they told him it was between me and another teacher I worked with that was furloughed. The district ended up making their decision based on the fact that this teacher also coached field hockey.

This was the absolute worst ****ing time ever for me to get laid off. Just built a new house, just had a ton of concrete work done at the house just a week before the call. They let me go 3 weeks before the year started, which means all the jobs have basically dried up.

I'm just beyond frustrated and angry. The union is doing next to nothing to get jobs back. I've requested a grievance about the fact they had 2 lottery drawings my initial year. The first drawing I was 4th highest on the list. The 2nd drawing, I was 15th. I also was hired for elementary and they moved me to high school a week before the year started. The lady I beat out for the elementary job, who was only hired after I got moved, is higher than me on the seniority list. My union head doesn't seem to really care about that.

I went to clean out my classroom yesterday and it's amazing how cold people can be. Some people I was really nice to just wouldn't even acknowledge me even though I wasn't let go because of any doing of my own. It just pissed me off to be treated like a bastard stepchild.

Even if I do get a teaching job elsewhere, I'm likely looking at 10-15k paycut.

I'm just really angry and needed to vent tonight.


***UPDATE***

I was called back by the superintendent of the district that furloughed me and they have a long-term sped position available until the end of the year. I accepted it. I go back to my full pay with benefits. While I'm hopeful that a full-time position will present itself, this gives me some security and flexibility.

I'm excited.

**2ND UPDATE****

Well, the arbitration ruling finally came down, and the teacher's union won on all counts. The district illegally furloughed all 32 teachers and now have to give us back pay and benefits for the entire school year as well as return us to our previous positions. District sent me a letter stating my reinstatement and I have to go to a meeting at 8 AM on Friday.

They might still appeal, but it's a good feeling.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by BIG_DADDY

No chance in the private sector?

Not in my area. That's even more corrupt than the school districts.

[Lono]

Sorry to hear TBG, in Missouri a tenured teacher who is let go because of cuts has to be the first person they hire back when a spot opens up that they are certified for. Doesn't matter if its in same area they were in or not. If they are certified they must be offered the job first. Hope your state has something like that in place.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Not in my area. That's even more corrupt than the school districts.

I was going to suggest Catholic schools, but then I realized that they probably don't have much demand for special education teachers.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

It's hilarious the head of the school board is a guy who was fired from the district as a custodian because he was stealing cleaning supplies every day and got caught.

Now, he's making the most important decisions for the district.

Makes no ****ing sense.

Ahhh, the beauty of democracy. Or something like that.

[Dallas Chief]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

It's hilarious the head of the school board is a guy who was fired from the district as a custodian because he was stealing cleaning supplies every day and got caught.

Now, he's making the most important decisions for the district.

Makes no ****ing sense.

How in the blue fuck does that happen? Local elections I would assume? Sorry for your plight man, can't imagine working for such a broked!ck organization. Wow.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Lono

Sorry to hear TBG, in Missouri a tenured teacher who is let go because of cuts has to be the first person they hire back when a spot opens up that they are certified for. Doesn't matter if its in same area they were in or not. If they are certified they must be offered the job first. Hope your state has something like that in place.

Yep. That's the same in my situation.

However, if I take a few praxis exams now to get certified in something else, it doesn't count until I was actually hired back.

[The Bad Guy]

Originally Posted by Dallas Chief

How in the blue fuck does that happen? Local elections I would assume? Sorry for your plight man, can't imagine working for such a broked!ck organization. Wow.

It's remarkable. The school board there is the biggest bunch of broke dicks ever.

The community votes on the reps for the school board.

[The Bad Guy]

OP has been updated.

[vailpass]

Great news.

[DeezNutz]

Good deal, man. Extra time and flexibility are great assets. Hoping that a permanent position materializes out of this.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Glad to hear it's good for now. Will be gladder when it becomes a permanent gig. Good luck dude.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

OP has been updated.

[ptlyon]

Awesome TBG!!! :cheers:

[Woodchuck]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

OP has been updated.

Good for you man. Just in time for Christmas! I know how it is.

[Bwana]

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

OP has been updated.

Good for you dude. I'm glad something came around.