Chapter?: Renewal

For the past three months I have been walking on eggshells, uncertain about a future no one can guarantee. The cards are stacked against me. A laundry list of maybes have to be crossed off, in the correct order, for my life to settle in place. It was not in my plans to move again. I am a nester. I like a little (lot) of stability. But, that isn't where education is at right now. Not with the incessant changes that have come about as a result of elected legislators.
Near the beginning of April one of the maybes finally flew from the list. My predecessor had left on a year's sabbatical after signing a two year contract. When renewal came about, she was sent letter, after letter, requesting her response. She sat on her signature for over a month, costing me sleep and focus. Finally she sent the contract back, turning down the position that would have immediately cost me my job. One down.
A week later, the School Board made a decision that would further impact not only my future in the district, but also the jobs of many of my coworkers. Anyone who had been hired to the district in the last eleven years would have to pick up a sixth class. That means their jobs will look like mine. One hour of prep, six hours of teaching, 25 minutes for lunch, and 30 minutes of resource. At my school, I am counted safe. In the district I am not.
That leads to the third maybe. Not only do I have to worry about the jobs of my coworkers in my building, I also have to consider the jobs of the educators with the same license within the entire district. La Crosse has a policy that allows teachers to move within the district, using seniority to bump out lesser experienced teachers if laying off becomes less of a scare tactic and more of a reality. Since I am the district baby for the English license, I am at risk. I could be bumped at any moment if Central needs to move one of their teachers to a full time position at Logan. Happy thought.
So here I sit, wondering if my haphazard schedule of cast-off classes will be enough to keep me solid in the district. I really don't want to uproot my life again.