This is a first.  The school board failed to pass a budget before the teacher contracts were handed out.  I watched 3-1/2 hours of the board meeting last night.  They didn’t name a new principal to my school, either.

It’s a bit unsettling to be expected to sign and return a binding employment contract when you don’t know what your salary will be, who your boss will be or what you’ll be doing for the next twelve months.  Of course the language is written so that the school board holds all the cards and can cancel the contract for any variety of reasons.  You, on the other hand, are only allowed to break the contract under a very limited set of circumstances without the fear of having your teaching license revoked.

NO FAIR!

I did sign on the dotted line because I know I’ll be in the media center next year.  That’s a given.  I can also calculate that under a worst case scenario, my salary will drop by $250/month.  Not ideal, but I can live with that.  The kicker and potential deal breaker will the person put in charge of the school next year.  I will transfer, find a new job and/or accept the consequences of a mid-year resignation if necessary.  Life is too short to continue putting up with the shenanigans going on in education today.  The kids and I deserve better than we’re getting.

No, not Columbus, Georgia!  But Columbus, Ohio to attend the NQA show in mid-June.  Hopefully, a coworker (and fellow stitcher) will be tagging along on the way up so she can visit her sister who lives just outside of Columbus.  

Why NQA and not the AQS regional show you ask?  Because the fine folks @ AQS decided to move the regional shows to other cities (Des Moines, Lancaster and Grand Rapids) instead of Nashville or Knoxville as they’ve been in the past.  Besides, the AQS grand event in Paducah always seems to fall during CRCT testing and I don’t dare even think of asking off during that time.

Two years ago, Mom and I went to visit Ohio’s Amish Country.  I found out about the NQA quilt show our last day there.  Last summer, we drove up to Lexington KY and to the greater Cincinnati area.  Two more hours and I’d have been in Columbus.  So, I’m going this year AND taking some classes.  I may even sneak a side trip over to Lehman’s in Kidron…but we’ll have to see about that.

Boomer will get to spend quality time at doggie camp while I’m gone.  Yes, hubs will be home, but given his crazy work schedule…it’s better for Boomer and my carpet if he goes to camp.

To all mothers of children – both the two-legged and four-legged kind:

Enjoy your day!