Financial Setback

The district has built two new schools out near mine.  The closest of the two will be filled only with students taken from my school.  We are at a student population of 1,200 this year; as we have been for the past 5 years.  Next year, our student population will be 700.  Our faculty is being cut in half.  No one is being 'fired', they just have to be relocated to another faculty.  Probably one of the two new schools.

There has never been any worry that I would lose my position.  So, even though I felt for the other teachers who have to find a position at another school, I felt kind of smug that I was secure.

However, I learned yesterday that the district has cut our Principal's budget on 'specialists' contract hours.  So, while I still have a job, my hours are being reduced.  I have always been on a .75 contract.  Next year I am being cut to a .6 contract.

I have been in a funk about it since I found out.  I ran the figures and between a cut in pay and an increase in insurance premiums I will be making $500 less next year...PER MONTH!  Overall, it is a $6,600 cut in salary for me.

So, what to do?  It feels like a slap in the face.

I could look for another position elsewhere in the district, however...

1. I was one  of the few elementary level art teachers in the district NOT already cut to the .6 contract, so there aren't any other elementary art positions out there to go to.
2. I can't just switch to a grade level classroom at my school because anyone with a full contract has priority over me, even though I have seniority.
3. While I could transfer to a grade level classroom elsewhere in the district, do I really want to?  I have been happy teaching art... much happier than when I taught sixth grade!  Also, who wants to be low man on the totem pole?  Not me!

I have thought about maybe looking for a 7th-8th grade art position.  I think that would be a blast!  Those are quite rare, though, and I will need to be patient for that opportunity.

In the meantime, I am trying to see the positive in this.  Most likely, a .6 contract will mean only working Tuesday-Friday... no Mondays.  I could definitely live with a four day work week!  I will just be even more broke than I am already.

Sigh.