Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The Cat's Out of the Bag


Rumor upon rumor upon rumor has spread like a vicious virus infecting the normal routine of the West Texas State School. How would I know of a thing? Because darlin', it's where I work, but not for long. We had a feeling a couple of years ago that something Wicked this way was coming for us West Texans and it's called budget cuts. Last year, right after Spring Break the state redirected half our student population to other state facilities causing a ripple effect of job lay offs.

At the end of this year, the transformer blew in the education building on campus leaving teachers and students in the dark and without heat during some of the coldest days of 2009. The state decided they wouldn't fix the problem and left us in the cold. We eventually found space in old warehouses and moved our belongings and continued to hold school despite the harsh and unfriendly conditions. We took this as a sign that our days were numbered.

Today, that sign has become a full blown slap to the face. Cherie Townsend, in an attempt to meet state government's demands for a 5% budget cut within all state entities, has proposed the early closing of the school. This closing is slated for April 2nd. We were assured over and over and over again that the school wouldn't be closing until the end of August. That we'd have our jobs until the end of August. That the students that we've been so dedicated to for the past couple years would be with us to TAKS test and GED test, but now that promise has been broken.

Yes, I agree with the man in the green suit and patriot tie on the CBS News when he states that West Texans are considered step children that no body likes when it comes to making decisions for the entire state. We are usually abandoned and left to fend for ourselves. Oh well, it's not the first time and I'm certain it won't be the last.

4 comments:

Jovan Gonzales said...

AWW!!! That's so horrible! I'm sorry. But, at least now you can move to Dallas and work for the Region 6 (maybe 8) EPA!!! DO IT! Then, we can also be best buddies because it's only like an hour and a half from where I live! :P

PS: Texas' government is lame. Just move to Sweden with me!

Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths said...

Jovan! Hmmm...what wonderful ideas you have, but I'll only do it if you're my advisor!!! I do have a job lead in the Lovejoy ISD, it's (I think) a burb of Dallas?

Best Buds in Sweden? I'm thinking I'll have to dye my hair back blonde...:)

Jovan Gonzales said...

A quick Google search seems to suggest that Lovejoy ISD is actually in Lucas/Allen. Either way, that is a wicked nice area of Dallas. That's like the far northern suburbs. It's right south of McKinney which is also amazing. I wish you tons of luck with that. (I don't know that Princess would like the lack of prairie though!)

Yes. Sweden. No! Keep the hair, then we can be EXOTIC! :D Double bonus: we don't have to learn Swedish! Pretty much everyone born after the 40s speaks English!!! YAY!

Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths said...

Hmmm...Lovejoy does sound nice. I'll keep you abreast of all the details. Princess will be happy if all her animals can go (3 dogs, 3 cats...and tons of ants).

Oooh, I've always wanted to be exotic!