School schmool

The mess we find ourselves in now, I believe, started sometime last year when we decided to switch our 7 period day with a 4 period block schedule day (four classes 70 min long, alternating days). We were told that class sizes would increase if we switched to block, but trying to be supportive of the sweeping changes the new principal wanted, we decide to just suck it up and deal with larger classes. This year, true to form, our classes did increase so average class size is upwards of 30, bordering close to 40 in many cases. Unfortunately, this year we are also going through the accreditation process that schools have to go through every five years. Our principal was informed that due to our large classes this year we will not make accreditation.

Because we pretty much have to make accreditation, the man in charge decided three weeks before the end of first term that we better do something about the large classes. Not wanting to have any of us give up one of our prep periods (we get one a day, but he already took away one to make us be in consultation team meetings every other day), he decided to hire uncertified teachers he wouldn't have to pay very much. He decided that we should open up new class selections that would help level the larger classes. So, he decided on the classes of: photography, social dance, weightlifting, extra drama and, oh, yeah, extra 8th English, extra 9th English, two extra Science classes. He told the faculty that we needed to find people to fill these positions or this wouldn't happen (He's really good at making his decisions our problem.) We were also told that whoever we hired would only teach two periods total, thus making certification unnecessary. (Just awesome since we need to make Adequate Yearly Progress this year.)

The principal hates that we earn money. He is always complaining that we complain about not getting paid for the things that we do. He actually didn't pay the drama teacher for doing the summer play this year, because he felt she earned enough money during the school year. He won't let us teach extra preps because then we'll get paid more. He already took away some of the classes that people got paid extra for (ie Student Government, Yearbook, Stage Crew, etc) and now they're held during Enrichment/Intervention time so we can't be paid for taking care of them. It's so lame.

Well, the term ended and there was no progress on having additional people. The new term started on Halloween and that week, suddenly, they found random people to fill these spots, after having turned down, current faculty who wanted to take the spots. Problems included that these people could start on different days and that the scheduling system was on the fritz for a week.

This past week, the counselors started calling down kids one by one to get their new schedules. A problem with this is that no one knew where the new classes would be held and some of the teachers won't start until next week-- so there are a bunch of kids who have no where to go for a few days while they wait for their teacher to start. Another problem is that when you switch one class for a kid, you have to rearrange the rest of their classes, so now, we are all getting kids changing classes all over the place. The class that I got new on Wednesday has had 3 new people added to it since Wednesday bringing its enrollment up to 41 (so much for smaller classes, eh?). It's all a big mess.

To top it all off, the principal, the assistant principal were gone this week. The head counselor retired on Halloween. A new counselor started last week with no prior experience. Another one of the counselors was also gone. Seven teachers had subs for most of the week (they all went to a national conference together). And, the district keeps shutting down the scheduling program to make adjustments.

The kids are frustrated that they don't know where they're supposed to be and that no one is willing to help them. The staff are frustrated because they don't now what's going on with all the scheduling changes and getting new kids on weeks two and three of a new term is not super easy. The admin is getting frustrated that everyone isn't just jumping on board with their awesome idea and that there have been tons of discipline problems in the last little bit. It's a sad cycle that keeps feeding off each other.

Just another reason why this year is shaping up to be the worst school year I've ever had.