WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

My principal gave me some good news today, but i am not sure what to do.

My district, like many, are making big cuts and several people have already been excessed. a lot of special ed. teachers at the secondary level were excessed and so they need some of the elem. sp. ed. teachers to cover the gaps in the upper grades. i am fine, but am low man on the totem pole so to speak, and so i have been asked to do .75 of my time in my home building (an elementary school) and .25 of my time at the middle school (because i am the least senior teacher that has the k-12 certification) = a full-time position... all good.

OR, I could take the .75 position ONLY and stay in my home building.

Here's the background....

I have a 22 month old DD and another baby due on June 30th. My original plan was to take my 12 weeks FMLA beginning in September, which would allow me to return after Thanksgiving. When I would return, I would be full-time.

However, this .75 is very enticing. It would allow me to be home 1.5 days per week with the kids... less day care or less work for my mom. However, we can't afford for me to take the full 12 weeks off and then the .75 for the rest of the year...

also, here's another twist.... in my district, if you do not work full-time, you do NOT accrue any seniority... so i would "lose" the following year if i took the .75...where as if i took just the 12 weeks, i would have accrued 7 months. also, with all the budget gloom and doom going on, i feel like it could be risky to not accrue seniority because it would knock me down a peg... although i am not the least senior special ed. teacher in the district, i am the least senior special ed. teacher of those that have the K-12 certification. so, for the 2012-2013 school year when i return full-time, if i wasn't excessed, a return to my school (which I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) is not 100% guaranteed.... i could be sent to the middle school or high school.

So.... here are my options.... wwyd?

1. would you take the 12 weeks all upfront and return full-time in December

or

2. would you take the .75 and start in September

or

3. would you take September off (give me a little more time off with the newborn and my sister is getting married in September) and then go to the .75.... We can't afford to do more than one month off plus the .75...

DH and i have tentatively agreed on choice #3. i am thinking it might be better to have a little more time with the kids spread out throughout the year... rather than all upfront? yes??? i am so indecisive.

sorry so long... thanks for reading if you've gotten this far. would be interested in people's opinions.

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

In this economy...take off until dec and go back full time. I don't think you can trust going back pt bc the pt people are the first to go and if they hire someone who has been excessed then they could jump over you in seniority. .. In the end it is a very personal choice so good luck!!

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

Take the 12 weeks and go back full time - it is not that bad being full time (though 1.5 days a week would be NICE!) - and job security is priceless.

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

I would take the full time position. So essentially I would pick option 1.

The not acruing seniority part of teaching part time concerns me. My district was fortunate and didn't have to let go that many people this year but the first to go were the part-timers. Also, if you are low person now I think you should try to get more seniority. I know it stinks but with the job market the way it is, I really think it is best to hold onto the job you have .

Tough decision and good luck!

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

Is the .75 only a one year thing? Would it effect your health insurance coverage? That would be a deal breaker for me.

I think I would want to find out exactly where I was on the seniority list before I made my decision. If it's not likely that I would be excessed because of losing seniority time the following year and if it didn't effect my health coverage, then I would go for September off and then come back .75. The likelihood of them placing you fully in a middle school the following year isn't good, but only you know the needs in your district. As long as you have a great relationship with your colleagues and principal, they will fight to keep you in their building. I know that's what would happen for me. I would also make this decision with the understanding that if they moved me I would just "suck it up" because of the extra time I would get with my DC. This sounds like such an amazing opportunity! Good luck with your decision!

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

I would choose option 1. With the current economic climate, I would not risk it.

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

Re: WWYD? Re: maternity leave and part-time work

I would go back full time and accrue seniority hands down. Good Luck and congrats on the LO!