The School District Giveth . . .

That sweet-ass high school library job I landed last month? I think it’s gone. It likely no longer exists. In all probability, there won’t be a position to transfer to.

My school district claims it is fast running out of money and will be insolvent within two short years. To highlight how dramatic a fiscal change this represents, this same school district completed construction on a highly controversial, multi-million dollar football stadium/instructional center not even three years ago.

Quite a turn of fortunes I’d say.

Since almost 90% of the district’s budget goes to personnel costs, administration has begun cutting to make up for this year’s budget short fall. The source of the problem is my district’s unique tax base (or lack thereof). It’s primarily a district made up of homeowners. There’s very little business tax revenue, and what little there is manages to shift their money around in such a way to minimize what they actually pay. Compounding this, the Texas legislature capped the amount the district can tax its homeowners. So even though the district is experiencing massive growth, its revenue isn’t keeping pace. In other words, students are overflowing schools, but the amount the community pays in taxes doesn’t meet that reality.

So, that high school opening will be cut and I won’t be transferring anywhere. As other high school librarians retire or resign, their positions will be eliminated as well until every high school is down to one librarian. Or until the shortfall is addressed by the legislature. Or until a meteor falls from the sky and wipes out all humanity in one gigantic explosion rendering Texas school finance reform irrelevant. Moot.

I am no longer Conan the Librarian.

The school district taketh away.