Employment Contract Advice - Unsure what to do

[etoiles]

Hello!

I am an art teacher and last year my job was cut (at the beginning of August!) for school. I had a hard time looking for a similar job and could only find a part time job teaching art two days a week. I worked at this job the entire last school year. I know I am lucky to even have a part time job doing this, believe me.

This summer I have been going to interviews, etc, but have not found something yet for this next school year in the fall. The employment place (that finds teachers for the private school I worked for) has asked me if I want to come back or not. He said I have to sign a contract next week if I want to come back and teach two days a week part time. If I do not, then they will look for someone else. (understandable)

If I sign the contract I feel like the rest of July and August will be a waste since I cannot apply to any new full time jobs I see. Part of me hates to sign a contract since it will make me so sad seeing full time job ads. However, if I sign the contract then I am guaranteed a part time job doing what I enjoy doing for the entire school year but obviously it does not pay much at all.

I'm not sure what to do. Signing the contract is a guarantee of a part time job but then July and August I will not be able to apply to any new positions that open up.

Is there any way of getting out of a contract after you sign it??? I see teachers quit all the time in the middle of the school year even and I don't see how that works when you have signed a contract.

Is there a way to get out of a contract?? What if DH's job would be transferred??? Are contracts the end all????

[Bojo]

I would say that getting out of a contract depends on the employer; they can release you from your obligation if you ask them. You can break the contract; but if the employer wants to hold you to it, there may be some reprecussions. For example some states will cancel your teaching certificate for a period of time if you break your contract without employer approval; but, I do not know if a private school can do that, or not. However, I would think that most principals, supertindents, or bosses would be OK with you asking to be released from your contract if you found a full time position.

[golfgal]

In our area most schools don't do any hiring until August when they have a better handle on numbers and they know who has moved out of the district, which teachers retired, etc.

If it were me I would tell them that in order for you to sign a contract this early in the hiring process they need to either guarantee you more hours or an out if you find a full time job. Finding another art teacher in mid-August will not be difficult.

You can most likely sub at least 2 days/week and probably for more pay then you were making at the private school.

[HM]

I have no knowledge of this.....but it doesn't sound like a wise move to me. Keep looking for a full-time job. Also, it may not be as easy to find someone to take a two-day a week job as they think....and you may still have them as a fall back in late summer.

[etoiles]

Thanks for the advice so far. I do find it very frustrating since I know many schools do hire in August and last year I did have a lot of interviews. I would hate to just 'give up' already this summer and call it quits with looking for a job....