This whole school thing in Wyandotte is a mess. The basic gist of the plan is that they are planning to close McKinley Elementary, and merge it with Monroe (my school). I understand it mathematically, but the way it is being brought about and presented to the families is all wrong. At first we were told that the entire McKinley staff and students were being brought to Monroe and any extra Monroe people would be gone, regardless of seniority. The children already in our building that are school of choice are to be moved out (en masse) to another building. In fact, our union president was actually told that they were really closing Monroe and transplanting McKinley. Talk about feeling like the ugly stepsister.
Now I completely get that losing your building is horrible. I really do understand that. But why disrupt so many more kids? The McKinley kids are moving anyway, send a group of them to another building. Why disrupt more children and families? It just makes me feel as if our staff and students are somehow not as important to the district, and that really hurts. I pour myself into my job as much as a McKinley teacher does. I understand that they have a different program, but different isn't necessarily better.
Sigh. I guess for right now, we are at the wait and see phase. The union does not plan to let the original plan regarding teachers happen, so that is a plus. And no matter what happens, my seniority is such (#120 in the district!) that I am relatively safe. The biggest decision now involves whether I want to take on the "McKinley philosophy" that I really think is going to be pushed upon me. I have been debating and praying hard, but still don't know for certain what I plan to do.
