Tighten Your Belts!

So, we had our meeting yesterday with our union to hear about our tentative contract.  The perks are that we got a 4-year contract like I had mentioned before (getting us through the biennium and Kasich) and our insurance will increase 0%.  In addition, we now have 3 personal days per year and can roll one over if not used in a year to have a total of 4.  For the length of the contract we also changed our total number of work days giving us an extra day off at the semester change (normally that was a work day for teachers).  Some of the things that have changed and are not really perks (but they are better than what other districts are going through):  Our insurance, though it isn't going up, is changing from a co-pay to a deductible.  In regard to pay, we are on a 1 year pay freeze and at least a two year step freeze.  This means that though this is my 10th year and I would normally move up a step in pay to 11, I will stay there for at least two years.  My pay next year will not increase.  My pay the following year will only increase slightly by about 1point something percent.  There are some other factors in there that could allow for a 4% increase at the end of the 4 years but it's all dependent on the personal property tax and I'm not sure what it all means.  We'll vote to ratify the contract or not on Tuesday.  I'm worried that people will get greedy here and NOT ratify it.  We've all been warned that if this doesn't get ratified - We. Are. F%&ked!  There are some pot-stirrers in our district though that will get others all riled up...cross your fingers.

Okay so it's Friday on a holiday weekend and I'm sooooo happy about that!  In addition - it's seniors last day today!  YEAH!!! So sick of seniors right now!  I have an IEP meeting today for a kid who unexpectedly decided to extend his schooling beyond his senior year (sped kids can be educated until 21) and is going to the career center.  UGH!  Had to put that together in about 3 days.  Parents can be such a pain in the ass!  Oh well - at least I have a job! 

Well, I best get moving...I need gas and I think I'll stop for a nice Starbucks coffee...that will be a thing of the past, however, as I start working on a new Hanke budget!  Later!