Position & Budget Cuts

Along with the impact on students, the difficulty of maintaining a quality education and programs, these cuts also have an impact on their teachers. While it is not possible to stop all program or position cuts, the district and SCTA work together whenever possible to determine how to minimize the impact of such cuts on both students and teachers. The district does what it can to keep those teachers in the classroom, doing what they do best… teaching.

So what about the times when the district has to make a cut to a position and it's yours? Is there anything you can do to better position yourself for when your position is hopefully restored?

The answer is yes. While these things may seem obvious doing the following successfully can help you regain your footing and continue on with your career as a South Colonie educator.

1. Continue to do your job to the best of your ability, not only for yourself, but for your students. Your students need you! They depend on you! While you may be hurt or angry, and this is totally justified, you still have a responsibility to provide your students with a great education. And you are a great educator! That is why you were hired in South Colonie.

2. Continue to put your best foot forward for the school and local community. Continue to participate in your after school duties and any extra curricular clubs or activities you would normally help or lead. Your students and school community rely on you for those programs to run.

3. Make sure administrators and staff always see you doing your best! People take note of what you are doing and how you conduct yourself even while you are dealing with the reality of your position having been cut. If you are looking for a strong letter of recommendation at the end of the year from an administrator or colleague, that will not happen if you burn the rest of your sick days or conduct yourself unprofessionally for the last several months of the year. Teaching is more than a job. It's also who you are!

4. Know that you are not alone. There are many staff members that you work with each day as well as staff in other buildings that have been in the same difficult position you are in right now. Many of them have worked through their position being cut and now have a long career in South Colonie. The district does its best to bring its teachers and programs back because it values what you do. It values your impact on students and knows students depend on you.

5. The SCTA is a strong, loyal union that does everything it can for each of its members. Can the SCTA protect your position when faced with program and budget cuts? No, that is out of the union’s hands, unfortunately. But they have and will always do their best to advocate for your position being restored as soon as possible and that you are brought back with the correct pay, correct step, and correct benefits that you deserve as an SCTA member when you return.

No one can ever understand exactly how you feel or what your own personal situation is while going through such a traumatic and difficult time in the beginning of your career. However, please try to find some comfort in knowing that your colleagues, your friends, are here for support as you do your best to continue to educate your students while working through this, and we will continue to be there for you when you return.

Please remember to talk with your mentor if you need anything and you can always reach out to either of us. We are all here for you.

Thomasa Nielsen (nielsent@scolonie.org)

Michael Lubbers (lubbersm@scolonie.org)

Mentor Program Coordinators

The incredible staff at NYSUT (New York State United Teachers) has put together a comprehensive guide to help you understand your rights if you are let go from or returning to a position, as well as to help ensure you know what the district can and cannot do if they cut your position. Along with this guide (which can be downloaded below) additional resources and information regarding layoffs can be found on NYSUT's website.

Once the file appears on screen, click the word "Open" at the top of the screen to bring up both download and print options.