well, got a lot out with my last post (just so people know, one of the ways I get things out is to write. since I pretty much have no one to talk to here in real life, that's my way of venting. and yes, it has been building).
so still job searching. this area seriously sucks. for those who are wondering why, well, let's just say that the County Executive proposed a budget plan that cut County aid to schools (saying that this money would be made up through taxes and such). as a result, schools cut their budgets, and from what I've been told, schools that originally were looking to hire people instead either cut back to part-time positions or cut the new position entirely. the proposed budget plan did not go through. however, while schools have had that money restored, it does not reflect in their budget, so the districts are not hiring for the positions pulled. from what I was looking at, this could have affected 15 or so positions.
add to that the fact that the school counselor position is not mentioned once in the No Child Left Behind legislation, so it is seen as "axillary" or "non-essential". for those who wonder what school counselors do, here are some of our duties (usually):
1. make up the schedule for all the classes.
2. place the students in the right classes. make sure the students have enough credits each year and are on track to fulfill graduation requirements.
3. balance out class loads. if one teacher has 35 students and another has 25 students in the same subject, us counselors make it more of a 30 student and 30 student classroom setting.
4. write college recommendations and run things like job fairs and college fairs. oh, yeah, and fill out information and send out college applications with the needed things....like transcripts and such!
5. work with students in need, to help them be able to succeed academically.
6. serve as a central point of contact. if a student is taking a long-term leave of absence (say, illness or death in teh family), the counselors typically are the ones that notify each teacher of that student. and if there are parent/teacher conferences and such, the counselors often run those meetings.
yeah, sounds like counselors are non-essential. so I'm guessing that this area will be hurting soon. my guess is that the districts will resolve the budget issues by doing such things as increasing the caseload per counselor (right now, the American School Counseling Association recommends about 250 students per counselor so the counseling department can have a comprehensive program...I've seen places where there are 350 or more students per counselor) and/or using part-time counselors (so basically as long as the student only has a crisis the 2 1/2 days a week the counselor is there (or so), the student is fine....outside of that, the student s screwed.). yeah, we'll see how that works.
so I basically have about 2 districts to hear back from. if I don't get either job (or hear anything by Monday), I'm sending out an application to St. Joseph's Villa and apply for one of their positions. it will be temporary (at least a year), where i can earn money and pay down bills and get money set aside so that next year I'm not locked into this area only. and, considering that I know someone who works that that I've been told already I can use as a reference, that should help.
so what else? well, got into work last night...
1. a register caught on fire. yes, fire. as in flames. it seems that there was exposed wiring. a coordinator cleaning the register heard noise, opened up a panel, and saw the smoke. the first fire extinguisher was expired and useless. from what we could gather (and I saw), exposed wiring was to blame.
2. the bathrooms backed up, a toilet over flowed. me wonders what a customer flushed down the toilet. and the person working maintenance....yeah, he just left. he didn't bother cleaning it up at all (a part of his job). so I got to clean it up. seriously, if that kid is not fired or his hours are not cut big time (like, down to 3 hours a week), something is wrong!
so yeah, that's about it. might not be in chat a lot soon....I'm pretty much all the store has for late-night cashiering. so I have a feeling I will be working many shifts until 2 AM (or so!). yay, what my messed up sleep schedule needs!
so, fingers crossed. hope that York or Attica call and I get a job! although one thing I've learned (and been told) is that you either need to know or blow someone in this area to get a job in the schools. since I won't blow anyone for a job and I don't know anyone....yeah, leaving could be a good thing!
so still job searching. this area seriously sucks. for those who are wondering why, well, let's just say that the County Executive proposed a budget plan that cut County aid to schools (saying that this money would be made up through taxes and such). as a result, schools cut their budgets, and from what I've been told, schools that originally were looking to hire people instead either cut back to part-time positions or cut the new position entirely. the proposed budget plan did not go through. however, while schools have had that money restored, it does not reflect in their budget, so the districts are not hiring for the positions pulled. from what I was looking at, this could have affected 15 or so positions.
add to that the fact that the school counselor position is not mentioned once in the No Child Left Behind legislation, so it is seen as "axillary" or "non-essential". for those who wonder what school counselors do, here are some of our duties (usually):
1. make up the schedule for all the classes.
2. place the students in the right classes. make sure the students have enough credits each year and are on track to fulfill graduation requirements.
3. balance out class loads. if one teacher has 35 students and another has 25 students in the same subject, us counselors make it more of a 30 student and 30 student classroom setting.
4. write college recommendations and run things like job fairs and college fairs. oh, yeah, and fill out information and send out college applications with the needed things....like transcripts and such!
5. work with students in need, to help them be able to succeed academically.
6. serve as a central point of contact. if a student is taking a long-term leave of absence (say, illness or death in teh family), the counselors typically are the ones that notify each teacher of that student. and if there are parent/teacher conferences and such, the counselors often run those meetings.
yeah, sounds like counselors are non-essential. so I'm guessing that this area will be hurting soon. my guess is that the districts will resolve the budget issues by doing such things as increasing the caseload per counselor (right now, the American School Counseling Association recommends about 250 students per counselor so the counseling department can have a comprehensive program...I've seen places where there are 350 or more students per counselor) and/or using part-time counselors (so basically as long as the student only has a crisis the 2 1/2 days a week the counselor is there (or so), the student is fine....outside of that, the student s screwed.). yeah, we'll see how that works.
so I basically have about 2 districts to hear back from. if I don't get either job (or hear anything by Monday), I'm sending out an application to St. Joseph's Villa and apply for one of their positions. it will be temporary (at least a year), where i can earn money and pay down bills and get money set aside so that next year I'm not locked into this area only. and, considering that I know someone who works that that I've been told already I can use as a reference, that should help.
so what else? well, got into work last night...
1. a register caught on fire. yes, fire. as in flames. it seems that there was exposed wiring. a coordinator cleaning the register heard noise, opened up a panel, and saw the smoke. the first fire extinguisher was expired and useless. from what we could gather (and I saw), exposed wiring was to blame.
2. the bathrooms backed up, a toilet over flowed. me wonders what a customer flushed down the toilet. and the person working maintenance....yeah, he just left. he didn't bother cleaning it up at all (a part of his job). so I got to clean it up. seriously, if that kid is not fired or his hours are not cut big time (like, down to 3 hours a week), something is wrong!
so yeah, that's about it. might not be in chat a lot soon....I'm pretty much all the store has for late-night cashiering. so I have a feeling I will be working many shifts until 2 AM (or so!). yay, what my messed up sleep schedule needs!
so, fingers crossed. hope that York or Attica call and I get a job! although one thing I've learned (and been told) is that you either need to know or blow someone in this area to get a job in the schools. since I won't blow anyone for a job and I don't know anyone....yeah, leaving could be a good thing!
VIEW 4 of 4 COMMENTS
trixxx:
I would LOVE to change my profile pic, the ones I have are 5 years old!!!! I have resizing issues , that and I am e-tarded about this kinda stuff....maybe next time one of my geek friends like khoos or mdf come, they can resize and crop pics for me to post?
slyderule:
well, I'm still hoping for you.