As many of you read about a month ago, my husband was losing his current job. His school district decided to replace 15 newer school librarians with 15 senior librarians who were displaced since their positions were closed. That meant my husband was being fired but his principal did throw him a safety net teaching position in case he couldn’t find a librarian position anywhere else.
Job Update
Within the last month, several things have happened:
First, my husband’s principal attempted to simply close the now-open librarian position instead of accepting someone new, make my husband a teacher, and then station him in the library, but she was overruled.
Then she decided to use some of her own budget as a special school to create a new position for Mr. BFS. The new position would be technically as a teacher but doing the same duties as before. The new librarian that would be replacing Mr. BFS would simply be given the teaching tasks for the library (working with kids on how to properly treat the books, how to use books for research, etc) and Mr. BFS would do the projects (the Spelling Bee, Career Day, Book Fairs, etc).
Also, the school board approved offering all of the displaced teachers and librarians a full year’s salary to simply retire or quit. We were waiting to see if the librarian replacing Mr. BFS would take this option, but they didn’t. BUT, they may retire anyway in a couple of months before school starts if they become retirement eligible within that time frame.
Finally, my husband just signed a new contract for the 2011-2012 school year (YAY!!!), so he is definitely employed. We just have to wait to see if it as the school librarian or as the filler for that new position that my husband’s principal created.
My husband also applied to every open librarian position in and around Houston, TX, but thanks to the budget cuts, he was only able to find 3 positions to apply to. He hadn’t heard anything back by the time he signed his new contract though.
The Waiting Game
So now we are just playing the waiting game. This is when we wait around to see if the librarian that would be replacing Mr. BFS decides retire instead.
It was awful while we weren’t even sure if he would stay employed, but now it isn’t as nerve wracking. I just feel bad watching my husband play a part until he finds out what his future will actually be. I’m a doer. I am not patient. This sucks.
On the super positive side, my husband will have a job!!! His principal has made sure of it. My husband’s very hard work did help form that bond, so it wasn’t all for nothing after all. I even feel a little better about all of the volunteer hours I had put in. 
My Own Job Offer
Oh, and as a side note, my husband’s principal decided from the letter I wrote that I was a person she would want to hire. She only had one open position, the textbook clerk, but she asked if I’d take it. Since it would be a nearly 50% cut in pay and I am striving to blog full time by the end of the year anyway, I politely declined. But it was an ego boost to simply be offered a job because someone liked my writing and get-it-done personality.
Any tips for me while we wait it out? How do you deal with life during frustrating times like this?
That is great news Crystal! It must be a great feeling for your husband. Keep working hard and be selfless, and good things will keep coming your way.
First Congrats on the two offers.
It sounds like your husband will be able to continue doing what he loves at least part time thanks to the principal who understands where his strengths are.
The way I deal with stuff like this is to take action (and you did) and try not to stress over the stuff you can’t control. Even if the outcome isn’t ideal, convince yourself it’s only temporary (it is) and that you will have more choices again down the road.
I’m happy for you both.
Congrats to both of you! I love that your letter writing netted you a job offer. You just never know where opportunity is going to come from.
Regarding waiting things out, I am just like you and I despise it. I am starting a waiting game of my own and I am doing my best to not stress out. However, regarding your husband, he has a job of some sort, so that is a great thing.
Congrats again!!!
Yeah!! Congrats to your husband. It is a pain to wait it out, but at least you know his salary is secure.
We are playing our own waiting game. My husband has a post-doc lined up for September, but first he has to get his dissertation advisor to move a little faster to make sure he has graduated by September, or he will not be able to accept the post-doc. Having to pin all of our hopes on his very slow-moving advisor is extremely frustrating!
That is awesome news Crystal! I am happy for you guys!
Congrats!
I have to say that the offer for a full years’ salary just to quit would be pretty tempting. Although, I guess when it comes to the school system, one of the worst job-to-applicant “industries” it might not be the best decision. However, I could definitely sit on my rear end twiddling my fingers for a nice salary.
Great news! I am shocked the principal took that much initiative with their librarian…it speaks wonders about the husband
Congratulations! It seems it is moving along. My solution is similar to yours when faced with frustration, take action. Unfortunately, there is not much left to be done. Stay busy while you wait.
That’s great news for your husband to be employed and be shown that much confidence by the school. Seems like things are working out, as his talents are being recognized despite the bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo going on there. Good for both of you.
Also, that’s great about the positive response you got on the letter. If you recall, I had expressed mild reservations about the letter when you made your original post, thinking from the perspective of corporate America. Well, you were right about your husband’s work environment being different, and this proves your point. Well done and congrats!
This is great news, Crystal! Congratulations on the job offers.
Good things come to those who wait. Everything will fall into place in time (and I hope soon).
@LifeAndMyFinances, thanks!
@First Gen American, your way of dealing does sound less stressful.
@Everyday Tips, thank you! I am excited!
@Melissa, oh…that stinks…good luck!
@MoneyCone, thanks!
@JT, a full year’s salary is tempting but they only offered it to the contracted teachers, not people like my husband that are in their first 3 years. I was surprised the librarian coming in didn’t take it though…
@Evan, it actually surprised me too. I know my husband is awesome and I know how much work he does for them, but it is just FANTASTIC that his principal realized it too!
@krantcents, oh, I am!
@Squirrelers, well things are very different in a corporate atmosphere – I wouldn’t have volunteered my own Saturdays to help my husband at a desk job, lol, and I wouldn’t have written the head of a company on my husband’s behalf.
I am just glad my letter was received in the way intended. Yay!
@Nunzio, thank you. I’m more of the mind that good things go to those who go after them, lol.
Congrats!
It will get a little easier now that you know he’s employed regardless… but your just going to have to wait it out… Good luck with that… I’m not too patient myself.
That is great news Crystal! I would suggest picking a new hobby (or work on perfecting an old hobby. Or getting more involved somewhere else (maybe volunteering) to pass the time. Tell your hubby CONGRATS either way!
That’s great to hear! It’s really too bad that education is suffering as much as it is right now. I’m hoping when I finish my credential program at the end of the year, that by this time next year things will look a little brighter for education. It’s taken me almost three years to finish my credential (37 additional units on top of my original 160 undergrad units!) so I’m being uber-positive that jobs will open up next year.
@South County Girl, yeah, patience is not my virtue…
@Jenna, I will pass along your congrats!
@Little House, good luck! It really is all about networking, so get to know fellow teachers and principals any way you can.
I’m so happy for you both! Time is on your side!
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