😠my school is going to be renovated. I am going to be kicked out of my Art classroom and put into what used to be the sewing room but I estimate it to be 2/3s the size of my curent room.
I sent the following email to the principal a couple of weeks ago:
No one has told ME officially, but I've been hearing rumors since last spring that I will be moved out of my room. Since it hasn't been sprung on me, I have had time to collect my thoughts on this and why I believe it isn't a good idea. I feel strongly like this decision needs to be rethought. Perhaps you aren't aware of the logistics of having art in a non-art room. It was tried once before using room 153, right before covid, and it failed. Emotionally, I feel like I'm still being punished for believing in Justin Browning's lies when he promised me the full time Art position back in December 2022. If I had the Art position he promised, I feel like this wouldn't be an issue. I try to find the silver lining, and I try to stay positive by saying "A little bit of Art is better than no Art." However, I cannot see the silver lining with this proposed move. I also feel like I've been a "team player" despite the above, because I have shared my Google Classrooms with lessons that I worked hard to create with everyone: Heidi Wiskus, Casey, Shelly, and Debra. I have even given Debra my FACS study guide that I bought for my MEGA test so that she can study from it. Finally, I have a sentimental attachment to room 162 as this is the room my teacher bestie and I volunteered to run the Art Club from 2014-2018. I know emotional reasons are minimal criteria to consider why I shouldn't be moved so let me continue with the more practical reasons.
When we had our what-do-you-want meeting last spring, the only thing I wanted was the drawers for student artwork-in-progress fixed so they looked nice and didn't bind up causing students to yank the drawer off the tracks. I also didn't want to lose my outer door access. I was satisfied with what I had and had no need for more. If I do not get 162 back, there will be A LOT of needs for the classroom to make it functional for art classes. My first year in 162, I spent soooo many hours before and after school and came in many weekends scrubbing the cabinets, sinks, and walls, fixing what I could, and organizing what was left behind by the previous teachers in that room (I found stuff from Mr. Vargus, Mrs. Plank, and Mrs. Letterman) and the storage room. I spent a great deal of time figuring out what supplies were available to plan Art projects for. It wasn't easy trying to do all that while also teaching 4 different subjects at the same time. I put a lot of sweat equity into this room and the thought of throwing everything into boxes in May (because there is no time from "last day with students" and "get outta here") and then in August having to organize things and figure out a new place for things (whenever we are granted an hour) is daunting.
It also would be extremely difficult and impractical for me to do Art anywhere else. First, there is the need for multiple sinks for students cleaning paint palettes and brushes, tables and hands. We don't want students crowded around one sink pushing and nudging each other as they try to quickly wash up. Can you imagine 15 to 25 students crowded around one sink? That is too much chaos for these kids (and the adult dealing with the chaos). That means I would also have to start clean up time earlier, meaning there would be less creativity time for art and more time for mischief. I also won't be near the art supply closet located between 161 and 162 in case I need a paint color that just ran out or I was short a piece of paper in the middle of class. Many times I've had to share what I had in my classroom with the other art teachers, (both Heidi and Casey) or vice versa. It also creates a challenge knowing what supplies I need to keep an eye on for purchases. Finally, there is the clay unit. Again, I need multiple sinks as hands get washed several times a class period (varies from person to person). There are not enough tools for both classrooms to do the clay project at the same time so we take turns and share. I don't have the physical strength to move a 50 pound box of clay very far. And no one wants to take the time to dismantle and reassemble the slab roller so that means rolling the slabs for class in the storage closet, then somehow moving them to my room however far that may be without damaging them. After the students make their projects, I would then have to bring their fragile dry creations into a classroom that isn't mine and then into the storeroom (every door, every bump is a potential for disaster) to put them into the kiln. The kiln in the supply closet, by the way, is MANUAL. It needs constant attention to adjust dials every two hours when bisque or glaze firing. After being fired, I would have to bring the clay creations back to my room for glazing, then back to the kiln one more time. After the second firing, I would have to once more carefully move the ceramic pieces to my room. The only way to minimize all that movement is to have a second set of everything (and that eats up my Art budget), or to trade rooms with Casey for a while (and there is enough stress and pandemonium trying to do that in FACS for cooking so that is even less appealing). Also, displays for student artwork are located next to 161 and 162. If the rumored change of rooms actually were to happen, there is too much that would need to be done to make 4 walls into a serviceable Art Room and therefore, an increased budget.
For all these reasons, please do not move me from my classroom. Instead, I think the better solution is to build a classroom at the end of the Fine Arts hall past room 165, you'd just have the students make a right turn past the doors. If you need a bigger classroom footprint, that hill next to the gym wall is backfill (the gym and cafeteria had to be fixed because of the backfill settling-see crack still on the stage) and it would be easier to remove than the blasting for the preschool was. The sidewalk can be poured to go to the east side of the building. If the new classroom is built for the Percussion class, then extra sound proofing can be added at this time if desired. I know at the meeting last spring, you said knocking out walls was easier, but these walls are holding up things over our heads and that actually sounds like a good way to weaken and destabilize the roof. Making Garth's room into two GTT classrooms, seems to make sence, but I also foresee a crowded hallway because of its shortness.
In closing, I sincerely hope you will reconsider the decision to move me from my current classroom. I have invested a great deal of my time, money, and personal effort into creating a functional space for me and my students, and moving to a different room would not only disrupt the art program but also present significant logistical and practical challenges. My current classroom is equipped with the necessary resources and layout to support art instruction effectively, and any move would negatively impact both the quality of education I can provide and my ability to manage the classroom environment. I respectfully request that you take into account these concerns and explore alternative solutions that would not involve relocating me. I know I am but one small cog in this big LC wheel, but I don't see the need to appease one person at the expense of another. I do not need a meeting to discuss this matter as I tried to think of everything to communicate in this email although there may be something I forgot. If you decide to move forward with the rumored change of rooms even after reading and giving serious thought to the above, please be prepared for a lot of needs that must be fulfilled to make it functional. There is still time to reconsider displacing me, or anyone, in the Fine Arts wing. Thank you for your understanding and consideration of this matter.
Even though I've been told to give my thoughts there is no way I will not lose somthing in the move. I can have the single sink converted into 4, but the amount of wall space for storage cabinets will be less than what I have now (and I use all available storage PLUS the closet between us). And those Newline Panels take up floor space. So what is left for me and the students? Do I need to chenge to an elementary style set up where I bring them the supplies? Do I start doing marker, and crayon projects? Everytime I think about that room, I start crying. Retirement won't come fast enough. I have 13 -15 years of this to deal with. I don't want to cook, I want to create!
