Doing more with less

Yesterday was our last work day. We put the media center in order for the summer, shut down the computers, took the printer cartridges out of the printers and hid them. Finally, we locked the door and turned in our keys. Our school is losing 2 assistants, 2 teachers, and our technology associate. We also have two teachers out on medical leave who have not been replaced with long-term subs. Our numbers have also increased from 508 to 583. Right now we are expecting to have 4 4th grade classes with 32 students each. If our enrollment increases enough, we will get another teacher, but for now we are planning on four. There will be five classes for first, second, and third grade but the other grades are only at four. Managing those extra students will be a real challenge.

To add to the chaos, our principal decided to move seven teachers between grade levels. We had a staff meeting on the 11th and the VP handed out letters to those seven teachers. Changing grades isn't as simple as moving your materials to another classroom. We knew that there would have to be some movement because of teachers leaving but not like this. Last night I dreamed that I was in the media center with some of the teachers who have been reassigned. I was complaining about our principal's dictatorial style when she jumped across the circulation desk, put her hands on my throat, and started strangling me! It is definitely time for a break.

I think my position is secure for the present. I have good supporting test data: circulation statistics and reading test scores. Our students checked out over 1,000 books per week all year! That doesn't include the ones that were read in the media center without being checked out. I know that there are ways to track that sort of data but I can barely keep up with shelving and mending as it is.

I also got to put a book order together yesterday. We had some more lost book money. It is never enough to replace all of the lost A/R books but it was a start. I had $254.50 to spend but had to make allowance for the state sales tax. The school system gets the tax back at the end of the year but WE never see it again. $237 = sixteen books. My boss is donating another 13 books which will cost $205 plus tax. If we could get the sales tax back that would be two more books. I told her that she was crazy to make a donation right now, but she wanted to get a few new titles for next year.

LH