losing my job...

[Brian B]

I just have to rant and left off some steam......

I am a teacher in Illinois and have been informed I will be losing my job at the end of the year due to budget cuts.  Our district is over 1 million dollars short of what the state should be giving us. Now, I understand times are tough.  Here's what really gets to me.....

1.  The middle school and high school are in one building with approximately 300 students total.  There are two principals who make over $75, 000.  Why in the hell do we need to principals for 300 students?  A lot of schools have 2,000 students and only have one principal and a dean of students.

2.  Our transportation director makes almost $80,000 dollars.  At one point, the principals were responsible for this position.  Why do we need a transportation director?

3.  None of the three district principals or the superintendent are taking pay cuts at all to save teachers.

Now I want you to understand......I dont want other people to lose their jobs so that I can keep mine.  But honestly, how can you educate children by cutting teachers and keeping unnecessary administration?

Thanks for listening.

[b.Lee]

As much as I agree with you, but would you take a pay cut for someone else? Or multiple persons

It almost sounds like you teach at a private school, but if not I am not sure. I agree with the fact that it is unnecessary to have two principles and other random positions that one person could do.

I was laid off also, so I feel your frustration, but mine I worked for a bunch of attorneys and they make millions I think they could afford more so to keep me, then a bunch of administrators.  God forbid they lose some money by keeping me after there millions

[Brian B]

No I do not work at a private school, an as I said I am not trying to get other people let go just to save me.  All of the teachers that are non-tenured, which are  the ones losing their jobs, all agreed to taking a pay freeze or a pay cut to stay.  That didn't work.  I will have my Masters Degree in May and I told my district I was willing to stay at the level I am at an not get a raise. 

So the point I am making is that we have made sacrifices.  Even the teachers losing their jobs offered a pay freeze to save us.  Our school board and superintendent are not willing to make these decisions.

I am also NOT by any means saying my situation is worse than anyone that has been laid off either.

[Dan:]

I would start going to school board meetings. See what might happen at that end.

My high school had about 700 students. We had a principal and 3 assistant principals the year after I graduated. I don't get it either.

[slonezp]

I don't know what you're talking about. The state of Illinois started lotto in the early eighties with all proceeds going for education. There can't be any budget shortfalls.

Sorry to hear. I'm in the trades and last year was the slowest it's been in the last 15 years. I got my hours worked statement for 2009 from the union yesterday and basically didnt work for 6 weeks last year. It's now friday and I've clocked in about 20 hours this week.

What I don't get is how they determine where the cuts happen. You cut education, you dumb down America. Maybe thats the plan. A guy I work with wife got laid off. She's a social worker (paid by the state) that places special needs kids in different programs, housing etc. Her dept. gets closed but we still give handouts to people who IMO don't deserve them. Help the helpless, not the clueless. The state of Illinois is $12 billion in the hole. The jobs that are getting cut are the important ones. Education, police,fire. The people who make the rules and spend the money refuse to sacrifice anything for the good of the people. I apologize if my post is too political. 

[christopherjake]

Sounds like you made some valid points.  Sorry to hear about your job.  Hope all goes well.

[shootermcbob]

Sorry to hear. Good luck to you

[Grey Wolf]

Good luck on finding a new job.

[Boogey Man]

Sorry about your job. At least you have some notice so you can start job hunting (trying to look on the bright side, if there is one). Hope everthing turns out ok.

[Brian B]

Thanks for the good words.  By the way, I refuse to sell my boat!  Nothing can get that bad!

[firefightn15]

Good luck BB, like you said, you are not the only one in that boat but I do feel your pain.  Getting laid off or losing your job all together isn't fun but the worst of it is the unknown of being able to go back to work.  I hope you and yours can make a go of it and recoup quickly.

[bassfisherjk]

Sorry to hear about your job.

[Kenny418]

Sorry to hear about your job and I wish you  luck in finding something else. You make a great argument about extra staff in the wrong places. You hear about this kind of thing happening everywhere. I hope the economy turns for the better, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

[SirSnookalot]

Brian you make some good points and I feel for you, but this is the American way, sorry to say and it's no wonder the world rankings in education show us far below the #1 spot.

I get riled when I see seniors voting down millage for education saying that their kids are thru with school, don't they realize education is the future. IMO a teacher is a professional and they are underpaid.

[new2BC4bass]

I feel for you Brian. Excellent points. Wish you the best of luck getting back to work.

I work in manufacturing. Need I say more? I was salaried when hired in 1985. Based on 47.5 hour weeks. I was switched to hourly (not at my request) when I gave my 2-weeks notice 4 years ago. Stayed, and didn't say anything about working hourly because it worked to my advantage given the hours I always worked.

First 2 months last year we were cut to 45 hours, then 40 hours after that. Last year was a 25% cut in pay for me. Had been working 50-55 hours. Haven't had a raise since Dec. 2000, or it would have been a higher percentage. It was a bigger cut for several other people as they had been working 60 plus hours a week. Several people were laid off last year.

When it was mentioned to the plant manager that maybe salary personnel should take a pay cut, he said "No.", he would lay off more people first. They are still being paid for 47.5 hours, yet work only 40, and often less.

Plant manager spends most of his day on the phone. Handling company business? No. Think he does something else on the side. He handles that while at work, and the rest of the time BSs.

We are told how bad it makes them feel to lay off someone, and it is necessary for us to work less hours to keep the company afloat. I can understand that. What I can't understand is why the powers that be (making much more money than the rest of us) feel that THEY shouldn't also take a pay cut to help the company.

It is the same way with politicians. They vote themselves a raise, but freeze SS benefits. Now who do you think can afford to stay at the same pay level? Millionaire politicians, or the Average Joe just trying to survive?

End of rant!

Edit: Before any of you say "You must make good money to be able to take a 25% cut in pay.", or "At least you are still working.", let me say this. I took out over 50% of my available 401k funds last year when I totaled my car. Had plans of buying a new car, and replacing rugs in my home. Instead I bought a 5 yr. old car (made in USA) and replaced one rug only. Rest of the money went out monthly to keep up with bills. (Paid off the only credit card I had.) That money is gone. What good is having a job if you still have to choose between paying your mortgage or paying utilities, food, gas, etc.?

Look out for your future? He$$ I'm just trying to survive in the present. As are many other Americans. My heart goes out to them.

[Root beer]

I don't know what you're talking about. The state of Illinois started lotto in the early eighties with all proceeds going for education. There can't be any budget shortfalls.

State of Tennessee has lottery where the proceed is donated to education, however, far as I'm concern the only students that see that money is the college students. The public school system might be getting a cut, but I'm not aware of it.

The public school system I graduated from, the director of school is making $110,000 a year plus travel expense. The funny thing is, on the ballot two years ago, they asked the county voter if they could raise sales tax where the some of the money goes to the school system, and the county voters rejected it. After the vote, the local paper published an article where the board of director got a raise after the increase in sale tax was rejected.  :

While all that is going on, there still a local paper publishing articles about budget short-fall. :

I think you have some interesting idea that could work to save your job, I think you should attend the meetings and try to persuade them for sake of your job and children education

[tyrius.]

Dan's advice is right on.  Go to the school board meetings and make your case.  Go to your town meetings and do the same.  Get other's involved also.  Your case makes a lot of sense.  It's better to keep educators than administrators (assuming the educators are doing their jobs     ).  Most people would agree and you may actually see some changes in their decisions if the public gets involved.

I'd say more about IL but it's not allowed here!   Needless to say we're in big trouble.  :-X