Ticked about my Job! (Update)

[Luv Bunnies]

I'm so ticked off about my job! I'm a special ed preschool aide. Last year, I worked until 2:00 p.m. each day. The school psych called today to say they have changed the classroom hours and I will be working until 3:30 p.m! I can't work until 3:30 because I have to pick up one son at 2:45 and my other son's bus arrives at our house at 3:30. School starts in 3 days and they're just now telling me about the schedule change. I called the special ed director and his assistant said he can't call me back until tomorrow. I'm going to have to explain my position and ask him what my options are. So, I thought I would be starting back on Thursday and now I may not have a job at all.

The reason I work part time is so that I can pick up my son and be home when my other son's bus comes home. My dad will do it for me in a pinch, but I can't ask him to do it everyday. Besides, I don't want to give it up!

Thanks for letting me vent! I also e-mailed my union rep to ask if the district is required to give more than 3 days notice for a schedule change. I'll see what he says.

 

[bumbershoot]

 

[dougsmom98]

UGGH! I feel your pain. I teach high school and they informed us at the end of the year that we would be starting 10 minutes earlier (7:20 am). Ten minutes doesn't sound like a lot, but many of my colleagues and I have daycare issues. Most daycares won't let you drop your kids off until 7:00 am. That is going to be pushing it to get to work. At least we had notice. I would not be happy if I were you either!

 

[mncherokee]

Welcome to the school system! My DH has worked for 5 years for our local school and we have seen everything while he has been there. You should probably be glad your position wasn't eliminated because of budget cuts (so many have in our district).

Wondering... is there some shuttle that can get your children to your building? We have this in our district. Or an after care program for them to wait at until you can get there? We have been fortunate to have our younger children in the same building with DH.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Welcome to the school system! My DH has worked for 5 years for our local school and we have seen everything while he has been there. You should probably be glad your position wasn't eliminated because of budget cuts (so many have in our district).

Wondering... is there some shuttle that can get your children to your building? We have this in our district. Or an after care program for them to wait at until you can get there? We have been fortunate to have our younger children in the same building with DH.

There is an afterschool program at my DS10s school. But there's no reduced rate for only 1 hour of care which is all I would need. Besides, I like being the one to pick him up at his classroom, talk to the teacher, other parents, etc. I would hate to give that up. My DS13 goes to a private school (he's in a program for kid's with Asperger's). His bus drops him off at our house anywhere from 3:15 to 3:45, depending on the day. If I worked until 3:30, I would have a hard time picking up the younger one and then racing home to meet the bus on time.

The special ed director is supposed to call me today and I've already exchanged e-mails with the union labor rep. I'm going to propose a compromise - that I work until 2:30. I would miss recess and dismissal, but there will be another aide and 2 teachers there. Last year, we did recess with 2 adults. I'm hoping he will agree to let me leave early since there will be plenty of coverage. If he says no, I guess I'll have to move on....

 

[Schmeck]

I had a similar experience my second year of working in the public school system - only they moved me to a different school and didn't even tell me! I called to see why I hadn't received my letter stating my position, and I got some BS about one student being moved out, etc, and would I like to work at this other school? Would have been great if I hadn't just moved my DD7 to this school to make it easier the year before. So there she is, with her new friends in her new school, I'm at her old school, and luckily there was a teacher willing to drive her to school each day if I dropped her off at her home.

7 years later, and I still don't have a clue what I'll be doing until that first day back at school - sometimes I get a letter, sometimes I don't...

To the OP - The school pyschologist contacted you? I'd contact the head of Special Education and ask what's up?

 

[PADISFAM]

I would check your union contract--don't rely just on your rep, I would be suprised if they change the schedule w/o notice. Pretty common, even in the private sector is a 30 day notice for schedule changes.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

To the OP - The school pyschologist contacted you? I'd contact the head of Special Education and ask what's up?

Yep, the psychologist was calling around and giving out aide assignments. Isn't that weird? I did call and e-mail the special ed director right away. We haven't talked yet but he responded to my e-mail. He basically said the job with the later hours is all they have available for me. He apologized for telling me so late but he had no other options. I take that to mean "like it or lump it." I just talked to the classroom teacher and she said the other aide assigned to the room also has a problem with the hours. She has an 8 year old son to pick up. What is the teacher going to do with no aides? I made a proposal to the director where I would leave 15 minutes before the class is dismissed. I'll see if he bites.

In my e-mail, I asked the director straight away what happens if I simply can't stay until 3:30. Do I still have a job? Should I bother showing up on Thursday even though I can't stay for the whole class session? I'm waiting to see how he replies. My mom said to go ahead and work the late hours and she and my dad would pick up the kids until I could get some resolution. I said no, that sets a precident. I need to have a schedule that is agreeable to both of us before I even start. Hopefully I'll know something by tomorrow. If not, I guess my summer vacation isn't over yet! By the way, I sent 4 resumes out to the surrounding school districts today. With over 7 years experience, I hope some district can use me (with an earlier shift!). The only problem is that I would lose my seniority and my pay level if I start over with another district. But, at least I would have a job.

 

[FayeW]

Why do you need to be there to meet the bus for a 13 yr old?

 

[mncherokee]

Why do you need to be there to meet the bus for a 13 yr old?

Her 13 yr old has special needs. I completely understand.

Maybe with your experience you could apply at your son's private school?

Maybe they will compromise and offer some sort of reduced rate on the after care program (I know it sucks not to be able to connect with the teachers daily... I always enjoyed that)... I know it's a long shot.

If you want to continue working there, you will probably have to take your parents up on their offer... if not, you will have a lot of time to connect with your children's teachers.

 

[bzzymom]

That is a real bummer. I would imagine that it would be hard to even get a new job in your field at this time of year. If it were me, I would check into an after school care program at school. We are fortunate where we live that 6th-8th graders can go to a YMCA "youth center" after school for $25 a year total. That includes a bus that picks them up from the jr high and takes him to the center, plus also a snack as well. I am not going to need this very often, but, I am signing DS up for it anyway in case something comes up and I can't get when school gets out.

 

[Tink-aholic]

As far as the after-school program: is the cost of the program less than what your pay cut would be if you changed schools? You might still come out ahead with the program and your job.

I teach in a different district from my home, and every district around me is tightening the budget and reducing the aides in the schools. Unfortunately, that means that there are lots of unemployed aides with very few jobs to compete over. It sounds like your district is changing the schedules to stagger the aide coverage rather than lay them off. If you need the job, I would do whatever it takes to make it work.

Good luck.

 

[abdmom]

What an awful situation that they have handed to you. I hope that you can agree on a schedule that works for you with the supervisor.

I'm a teacher - or at least I was. I've found that having lots of experience doesn't always work in your favor. You become too expensive to hire. I've got an advanced degree and 10+ years of teaching experience. I can get interviews for administrative positions, but not teaching positions. And the administrative positions want me to work evenings and weekends - and I'm a widow with a 3 year old. Not gonna happen.

I've talked to other unemployed teachers with experience and they experience the same thing. It might be different for aides, but I would consider the possibility that it may be difficult to find a position BECAUSE of your experience.

Good luck! I hope they can change your schedule to meet your needs.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Why do you need to be there to meet the bus for a 13 yr old?

Because my 13 year old has Asperger's Syndrome and goes to a special school. That's why he gets bus service to and from school (it's 10 miles away). We have just started allowing him to stay home alone for no more than an hour while I run to the store. I wouldn't be comfortable with him having a house key and having to let himself in after school. Besides, the bus driver won't release him unless there's an adult at the house.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Well, here's the update: After two days of phone messages, e-mails and getting my union involved, the special ed director called this afternoon with a compromise. He said he "worked very hard" with the school principal, psychologist and classroom teacher to figure it out (which is interesting because the teacher said she never even saw him on campus). They will allow me to leave at 2:45 p.m. The teacher and the other aide will handle the dismissal at 3:00 p.m. I offered to cut my hours from 5 to 4 per day to compensate for the fact that I wouldn't be working the entire class session (I would actually prefer to work 4 rather than 5). He said the "team" decided they would need me in the mornings for planning and prep so my hours will be 9:45 a.m. - 2:45 a.m. everyday. I still have an issue on Wednesdays since both of my boys are dismissed early. But, good old dad (my dad) offered to pick up the younger one and take him to my house to wait for the older one's bus. Problem solved there. I will also have to have the bus driver drop the older one at my school on Fridays since they dismiss at 1:00. He can either wait on the bench outside of my room or in the car and read his magazine.

So, it's not ideal but workable. I was very stressed about this since my husband has been facing a possible layoff for several months. His entire department is moving to another state. We chose not to make the move since our whole family is here and DS13s special school where he is doing so well. There are very few schools with dedicated Asperger's programs and we happen to have one right here in our city. If DH didn't find a job within the company, he would be layed-off as of Sept 30. He interviewed with another department the week before last and today, he found out that they'll be hiring him! No lay-off, no loss of benefits, no interruption in salary! You can probably tell why my situation was stressing me out so much.

Thanks for all of the ideas and support!

 

[mncherokee]

Wonderful news!

Nice to hear everything is working out.