Splitting Up

We had a meeting about the new high school that will be opening 4 miles away from Bartram High. It seems that our school's population will be reduced by about 800 students next year so all departments will have their faculty count lowered. The science department will be losing 8 of our 17 teachers. We are being encouraged to apply to the new school or one of the other county schools as positions become available there. When the dust has settled from that they will look at those of us left here and decide who goes and who stays.

I have mixed feelings about possibly leaving Bartram High. I went through the same thing when they first built Bartram. I was one of the teachers from Nease who was asked to move to Bartram. I left Nease High with much trepidation. Things worked out well and I have spent 7 good years at Bartram in spite of the politics and usual gripes. I know that if I go to the new school that it would probably be ok. I am still think about what to do after next year when I will have my 30 years completed. I really don't relish going to St. Augustine High though it is a nice school. I would also not be wild about going to Pedro Menendez High because it would mean adding 1 1/2 hours of drive time to my day. Either way, packing up all of my belongings would be a major pain in the rear so I really hope I can finish out my last year here where I've done some of my best teaching.

I'm determined not to worry too much about it since I don't have any control over my ultimate fate. Obviously it is on my mind or I wouldn't blog about it. I guess that nothing remains the same in this world. I just wish that when things work well that the situation could stay that way awhile but that doesn't happen often in education. It's like being in the Army in that you go where they send you. I will know for certain by June whether I am staying or going. Either way, there will be a lot of changes to come. I hope the result is good for teaching.