Thanks, yan, I'll be ok. You just wait.

You know what Rook?
My money is on you pal!

You are a very decent person and I'm banking on karma combined with your efforts putting you in a much better place.

Again, all the very best with your endeavours...

* Last updated by: yannih on 1/16/2022 @ 6:05 PM *

Thanks, yan.

Letters just sent by email with a cordial note. I'll report back. Could be as soon as tomorrow. If I read the school board minutes and it says my resignation was accepted, that's final. If not, they probably want to talk. I don't think they'll go for the pay hike and the letter acknowledging the error of putting me on an improvement plan....I doubt they'll swallow their pride and do that but that's the #1 thing I insist on even if I have to write it myself and they sign it. I'd also ask for a $1000 bonus this year to cover the 1000 they denied me, expungement from my cum folder of all information regarding an improvement plan plus new computers and a ceramic kiln and proper ventilation. It's a tall order buut they wanted a great art department and I'm ready to deliver. I'll go a couple thou on the pay hike and maybe the kiln but the rest, I can't see what they could counter offer with. It will be interesting to at least see if they want to talk but I think they'll hire some kid right out of college for $10k less than me. Maybe that will work better for them. I will definitely pave the way for a new art teacher as much as I can. The art teacher before me just dropped everything including computer accounts nobody but her knew how to access. She didn't even want to meet me. That was clue #1 this was not going to be a longterm job but I was very happy to get it anyway. It might be time to move on now.

If I was over there Rook I'd take you out to a bar and shout you Victoria Bitter's all night to rev you up and inspire you for the up and coming challenges.

Now that you have started the ball rolling, go hard son!

(From a recent local trek)...

Thanks, yan! These challenges aint nothin compared to other challenges I've faced. This is just a change and it'll be a change for the better. I feel it!

The superintendent told me today the board accepted my resignation without much contemplation. The fat lady ain't sung yet though.

Special meeting ten days after they already had their monthly meeting where my resignation was discussed (probably in closed session). Sounds like they are deciding if they want to shitcan me or if they want talk. If shitcan it is, I already quit. Be kind of silly to fire me now.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call
2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Certification of Agenda Posting and Approval of the Agenda

4. Convene into Executive Session Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes Section 19.85 (1) (c) to consider the employment, promotion, compensation and performance evaluations of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility: to specifically discuss a personnel matter. The Board will reconvene into Open Session to Possibly Act on Items Discussed in Closed Session.

5. Adjourn

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/29/2022 @ 9:49 AM *

I'm standing firm, I want that thousand bucks that I was denied this year. They can write the check directly to my own two children because that's who gets it. Then I want my cum file cleaned out and a nice letter of commendation to replace it. I also must have my salary increased by 2 thousand next year. That thousand they took away should not carry over to the proceeding years. I think I'm worth more than a two thousand dollar raise but I can wait until I get a new job offer. I'd keep looking at new jobs because I don't know how I would ever trust this one again.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/29/2022 @ 9:59 AM *

Whats the update Rookmiester???

Sorry I missed this, Yan. Here's what's happened. The board meeting concerning performance evaluation probably had nothing to do with me. Most likely it was the principal who was under scrutiny. He quit soon after that meeting. He was the guy who was supposed to be overseeing my improvement plan but he's gone now.

I heard a rumor that the school board knew nothing of the note addressed to them that was attached to my letter of resignation. I was offering to come to an agreement rather than resign. I spoke to the school board president about it and he said they would discuss it. Never heard a word. I got a letter from the superintendent thanking me for my service to the district so I guess there's nothing to discuss. End of the year, I'm gone.

Right now I teach K-12. I'm looking for a new job at the high school level only and in a reasonably large city. No sense in interviewing for a job just like the one I have now. I've had two interviews and I thought both went well but I was not hired to either. There will be a few more possibilities before the end of the summer, I'm sure.

There's a trucking company a short distance from here that I heard is screaming for drivers. They will train and the pay would be 20% more than I make right now. I will probably apply. Work is work right? You do it to survive. A job you at least halfway like and that takes care of you is a good job. At this point in life, security is the main reason to work.

End of the year, I'm gone.

Well...looks like I didn't make it to the end of the year. I'm looking for a new teaching job for 22-23 and planning how to survive if I don't find one. I have enough money stashed to last me a year.

Having some stashed cash and being frugal helps. Best hopes and wishes with the job search.

Thanks lytnin. I'm pretty optimistic. I have some good friends here that will help me with work if necessary. I would sure rather not just sit back and rely on that savings account. No need for me to do that. I can bartend, I can work on a farm. It would be an interesting change of pace. I am hoping one of the teaching jobs I applied to will hire me though.

Rook, around 2 years ago a work mate was forced to leave due to issues I won't bore you with.
The only key thing is he was treated unfairly while the guilty person involved is still there.

However it ended up being the best thing that could have happened to him because he is now doing so much better with opportunities that would not have been available had he stayed.

Like yourself Rook, he is a good bloke so I wish the same luck for you also...

Thanks, Yan. I sent out 5 applications yesterday and one got back to me by phone today. I'll have an interview next Wednesday. It's a larger town 30 miles away. ...still not a great place to own a home but If they up my salary to where it should have been for 22-23, I'll take it. No elementary students, all middle school and high school. They prefer someone who can teach photography and digital art which fits my agenda perfectly. It would be an easy move. Maybe I'd be looking for a larger city again in 23-24. ...not to count chickens that are yet to be hatched but they did hire me back in 2017. I chose this place instead.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/31/2022 @ 10:54 AM *

Things are about to change and here's the update:

I did resign and they made no attempt to keep me even though I made it clear that I would be willing to negotiate. The new art teacher has been hired and I wish her the best of luck.

I've sent out 40 applications since February and from that, I've had 16 interviews. That's a 40% response to my applications which seems very good to me. Out of the 16 interviews, I had one offer and it was $3000 lower than I started at in my last job and $7000 less tan I should have been getting paid for next year. The offer was actually not enough to survive on if I had a decent apartment and commuting costs. The thing that befuddles me is that my interview/offer rate has been only 6.25% !!! I actually received two offers at the same time in 2017 and that was after only 14 interviews.

We're talking small numbers here so I'm not sure expressing them with percentages is a good way to predict how this job search might go in the future. It does show that it takes me a hell of a lot of interviews to get hired even after I had 4 years of experience. The travel cost me $5000, gas and vehicle use. I had to call it quits. I'll do virtual interviews but I'm not spending more money to travel across Wisconsin. Times about up anyway, school starts in a few weeks.

Did you hear there was a teacher shortage? I would have never guessed!
SO now I'm looking for a normal work o day job. A J-O-B job. I'm sorta getting to the point where I'm too old to give a shit anyway. DO what you gotta do and there's no real reason to have big plans for the future.

...and BTW, at the end of last school year, the resignation count was 7 out of a teaching staff of 23 including me and the principal who quit in January. The turnover has been similar all of the 4 years I have worked here. There I go with numbers again but when you see the same kind of trend year after year, it means something even if the test group is small.

Rook, again sorry to hear your story and how you were / are being treated.

Unfortunately I understand how frustrating and draining it can be looking for a new job.

In my late 30's I heard my company was considering offering voluntary redundancies and asked my manager to see if he could sort one for me.
He did and I got a fair some of money.

I had no doubt about my ability to get another similar position elsewhere and never gave it a second thought.
I even thought they'd come knocking on my door.
Man was I wrong.
That 6 month period was one of the most frustrating and disallusioned periods of my life!

First I found I it was no where as easy as I thought it was going to be.
Job vacancy advertisements were getting many many responses and sometimes would not even take your call.
On advertisements where they asked for a covering letter and resume, the vast majority would not follow up.
Then dealing with executive employment agencies was a nightmare.
They promised the world, delivered very little and rarely got back to me.
Then interview after interview with most companies not even having the decency to advise the results.

I truly wondered if I would ever succeed it getting back into the game.
My confidence plummeted and I really started to question myself about my worth.

But I now know that although I initially had misplaced over confidence, I was still a solid candidate for the positions I was applying for and in the end was finally was successful.

Thats where you come in Rook.
I know you are a decent person who would be a great additive for any company, and Im sure you know that as well.
Easy for me to say now, but stay positive, never lose faith in yourself / what you have to offer, and keep at it because to a large extent it is a numbers game.

It was a really average time for me then and it sound like its similar for you now.
As long as you put the effort in you'll be fine.

Again, keep at it, stay strong, never question your own value and don't let the bastards bring you down...

* Last updated by: yannih on 8/9/2022 @ 11:22 PM *

God has a plan for you Rook, it will all work out for you!

Thanks for the encouragement, yanni and Daddyrabbit. As long as I keep trying, something interesting will happen sooner or later. Whatever job I have next doesn't have to be real longterm, it just has to be interesting enough to get up and do it everyday and of course, it has to cover my living expenses. I'll keep you posted.

I'm returning to my hometown where I have always liked living the best. If I want the job, I'm hired as a school bus driver there. The pay's not terrible but it's not really enough to live a normal life on. I just have to tighten my belt. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt and the bobblehead.

Before accepting the bus driver job, I'm waiting for the results of an interview I had as a tech ed paraprofessional (teacher aide) working in a high school auto mechanics or mechtronics (robotics) class. Either of those would probably put me back in touch with my passion for wrenching but I doubt either would pay a whole lot more than bus driving.

It all depends which job pays the most money but I'll be happy with either one. I'm not going to get rich either way!

I also stopped into a local bike shop to ask about selling my wrecked 14. The guy said he might be interested and he'd have a look at it. The guy also said he was interested in selling the business which includes a dynamometer. Sure sounds like a dream. I'd have to work there before I'd consider buying it if that would be possible somehow. There seems to be lots of local competition in the bike shop business.

I'll let you know where things go from here. I feel a bit let down but still glad I made the choice I did. This last year in Winter hasn't made me very happy. All I need to do is take care of my mental and physical health and I'll be fine.

* Last updated by: Rook on 8/19/2022 @ 6:49 PM *

All I need to do is take care of my mental and physical health and I'll be fine.

So mate, what did you decide?

So mate, what did you decide?

The bus driver job fell through and I wasn't hired to the tech ed position either. Neither job paid enough to live on so no big loss. I delivered auto parts for the next 14 months. That job didn't pay enough to live on either. After 6 months, I interviewed for some jobs that paid a couple dollars an hour more but didn't get hired to any. It occurred to me after 6 more months went by that if I'm going to spend the time looking for better work, I should try for the best paying jobs I can, not the ones that are only a little better. After all, it doesn't take any more of my time to apply for a good paying job than one with low pay. The first good paying job I tried fr I landed immediately! The job is with one of the most sought after employers in my hometown. I had to see a doctor and get on blood pressure meds in order to meet the physical requirements for the job and my new company waited for me. I am installing and wiring electrical control panels to steel buildings that are also built in the plant. The pay is good, I always loved my hometown and I'm here to help my parents out in their final years. I will continue to look for even better opportunities within the company and outside too but what I have going right now isn't bad. I'd like to teach again if something comes up nearby but the pay would have to beat what I currently make. I'm back on track.

* Last updated by: Rook on 2/16/2024 @ 7:12 PM *

Glad to hear this, Rook!

You've been such a blessing and such an asset to this forum for so many years now.

Just wanted to say hi and THANKS... -bg

* Last updated by: bgordon on 2/17/2024 @ 6:36 AM *

Hi BG! Thank you! It's great to hear from you!

Rook what your story tells me is that the lower paying jobs, the interviewers probably thought you were overqualified or would be unsatisfied with the "challenge" of those positions.

Glad to hear things are getting back on track for you.