There Is Tired and Then There Is TIRED

Count me in the latter of the two. Life for me has been one big juggling act the past couple of weeks. Work is really busy as my two largest clients each have a large trade show coming up in March so we are producing mailers, room drops, brochures, booth graphics, etc. etc. Normally this juggling act is not big deal to me. However just a few weeks ago I took on a, shall we say, "un paid part-time job."

What you ask, am I nuts? Well possibly but that is for another post and having nothing to do with this! :-) Our school district is facing possibly the largest budget reductions they have EVER faced. Because we as a district failed to pass three levies this past fall our school is faced with slicing $16.3 million from our budget JUST for the 2008-09 school year. Although not stated out loud this is surely the first of a trend if things don't change. One of the largest cuts is 166 teachers which will increase our class sizes 8-10 students. However what I have been mired in is the proposal to close two schools, re-purpose one school to house the Magnet school currently housed at one of the two schools recommended for closing and the proposal to convert our current elementary school to a 4-6 school and convert the other elementary by us to a preK-3 school. Along with this, our 4-6 school will be receiving ~250 kids from a Title 1 school where the school is already in the last phase of corrective action for the No Child Left Behind to the point if their scores don't go up the Feds will step in. Sadly there is no guarantee or evidence to support that moving children already struggling academically to a school where children are doing well, will help them to improve academically. Currently they receive over $1 million in Title 1 compensatory funds but ONLY $80,000 of those dollars would follow them to our school. How can you grow children academically by taking away resources?

Can you tell I am a passionate parent? That passion has equated to many many meetings, emails, phone calls and late nights. It has also equaled very little sleep and the steepest learning curve I have ever taken on. Oh the things I can recite. Last night I attended the school board meeting -- from 5:00 until 1:30 this morning (it ran until 2:30). More emails and meetings will follow until the Board makes a decision on March 5th. As I told a friend the good that has come for me is that it took this bad, eye-opening event to show me that I have to be involved in my children's school and I have to have a voice for my children. Like I told the PTO President, "this woke me up and I am here now, I am here for the duration and I have a kindergartner starting in the fall so you are stuck with me for many years."

So, Ryan and Anna, here's to you, don't worry Mommy (and daddy) are looking out for you and for your education and we are making sure you DO have a voice.