Big Ugly Changes

Check out this article:  http://www.sltrib.com/education/ci_14894766
Our ever-popular (not really) superintendent decided to take the money.  It's always about the money, isn't it?  Anyway, they chose four schools to reconstitute and ours was one of them.  I'm not sure if I've calmed down enough to actually write what I'm thinking about this turn of events.  For years we have said, "If only we had the funding we could make so many important changes."  Things like a longer school day or more days of school were out of reach for us, and yet they could make so much impact in catching our students up to their peers. 

So now the federal government is willing to give us money - lots of money.  Enough money to really make those types of changes.  But not with the teachers currently working so hard to make these kids' lives better.  Nope.  Half of us will be asked to leave because apparently we don't have the vision or the dedication, or the whatever, to do the job.  It really feels like a slap in the face.  I can't think of a faculty I've EVER worked with that has done more professional development, has worked harder to develop a learning community, or to support students and parents than are at my present school.  What a shame that every underperforming school is painted with the same brush.  Sucks to be us right now.

Spring Break

Well, maybe it isn't Cancun or Hawaii, but at least I'm kicking back and putting my feet up.  It's spring break at last (or already!) and I don't really know how to enjoy it best.  It's tempting to just sit down in a comfy chair and do nothing.  On the other hand, there are projects beckoning, dirty corners crying for attention, and interesting places to go tugging at my mind and don't forget taxes.  We've let ours go until the last because we'll owe some and who wants to pay that too far in advance of the deadline?  So far I've had three days of relative quiet - took Norma and Kimmi to a play, spent Sunday reading with a few minutes of yard work thrown in to prove I wasn't completely lazy.  I spent this morning going over all the stacked up paperwork that needs attention.  Tomorrow is tax day and Wednesday I'm going in to work (yeah, it bites, but there are things that must be done when there are no kids there).  Thursday so far is free.  Mike is home on Friday and we're contemplating an overnight run out to Park City or even just downtown SLC.  I love quiet times at home, though, so I'm thinking I'll recharge right here in my nice comfy chair after all.  That is until Sean shows up to work on the coffee table/display case for the Millennium Falcon.  Happy spring, everybody.  I wish you a couple of days off with nothing much to do.