This is an important week as teachers "officially" return to prepare for the new year. Yes, most have already started this process, but this is the week when principals and leadership teams have the opportunity to share their message and establish a focus for the year. The message this year will include, in part, the system focus on Classroom 10. We struggled last year with this goal, but with support from principals and teacher leaders we now have a goal that is focused with support structures in place. It is a two year goal with the potential to influence learning in all district classrooms.
As we start the year, we will immediately feel the influence of the budget cuts on our work. The furlough agreement we reached with TEA resulted in a loss of time that was traditionally used in August to prepare for the coming year. I know from conversations with principals that they are concerned with losing these opportunities, but understand and agree with the decision. We can only hope that the loss of salary and time will be replaced in the next biennial budget. In the short term,we are waiting anxiously for the September revenue forecasts and hoping that they will not result in additional cuts to a budget that starts September 1st.
As the week unfolds I will be interested in your thoughts about our goal. Please feel comfortable to share with me as I will be in buildings or respond with a comment to this or future posts.
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