Author Topic: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?  (Read 833 times)

kittyfan43

Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« on: March 13, 2020, 11:04:04 am »
Dear Superintendent
I am a long term substitute teacher working with an AP music class that is ongoing over the hiatus due to the Corona virus. I was told that it is necessary as this is a college course and there are AP exams in May that the students must get ready for. I have just sent my students a quiz through google classroom that were going to be working on today.
I meet with these students 3 days a week.
I unfortunately have financial concerns about the current situation. Last summer, I found out that unemployment in Connecticut would pay me for time off over the summer if I worked directly for a school system. I could only get unemployment if I worked for an agency.
My experience last summer made me very uncomfortable relying on unemployment for substitute teachers here in CT. What will my compensation be while I am working with this class?I worry that unemployment will not be forth coming as this has been an issue in the recent past for me but I do not work to look for another full time job either in another school system or elsewhere that might make me unavailable for coming back to this school system. I would prefer to continue to work with my AP students and seek only part time temporary work elsewhere.
What would my compensation offer be for continuing to work with AP students? We meet normally 3 days a week and they are a significant part of my lesson plans and grading for the week. I also plan to continue to build my online resources for the 2 high school choruses during the time out from school so that there are listening resources for students so that students may continue  to work with the music over the break. 
Unfortunately, I have bills to pay so I am forced to ask about this. I do worry that at some point in the near future I will be unable to pay my rent if there is no resolution shortly.
Will I be paid for 3 full days a week or is there another compensation package that you would like to offer me?
It is my very strong desire to see this job through to the end of the school year and I have put everything that I can into making this school year as successful as possible for all of my students.

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QueenFaninCA

Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2020, 01:05:47 pm »
I think you need to describe in clearer terms what your current situation with this class is. Is the regular teacher out for a longer period and you are covering the class? Or are you assisting the regular teacher?

Also, what exactly is you school district doing as a hiatus? My son's district is closing schools for three week. The last week of that is done by moving spring break up one week. For the remaining two weeks the teacher post material in google classroom and collect classwork and homework electronically. All students have a school-issued tablet they can take home and if they do not have internet at home they are getting a device using cell phone signal so that they can have an internet connection at home (urban district, so cell phone coverage not an issue). The teachers are expected to plan lessons and grade home- and classwork. They need to be available via email for questions. They will get paid as they would normally.

Jem

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Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2020, 02:05:46 pm »
I think the letter is way too long and includes way too much information that the superintendent does not need to know and that does not paint you in a good light. It is not the superintendent or school district's fault or business whether you get unemployment or have other jobs. Stick to the terms of whatever contract you signed, and simply ask for clarification of those terms without getting into your bills and inability to pay rent and plans to build your online resources, for example.

I am not really following why you think your compensation will be affected by the coronavirus, and if I were the superintendent reading this letter I would not understand what you are asking and why.
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gramma dishes

Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2020, 03:53:06 pm »

I got lost.
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jpcher

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Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2020, 04:11:57 pm »
I think the letter is way too long and includes way too much information that the superintendent does not need to know and that does not paint you in a good light. It is not the superintendent or school district's fault or business whether you get unemployment or have other jobs. Stick to the terms of whatever contract you signed, and simply ask for clarification of those terms without getting into your bills and inability to pay rent and plans to build your online resources, for example.

I am not really following why you think your compensation will be affected by the coronavirus, and if I were the superintendent reading this letter I would not understand what you are asking and why.

Bold above is a strong point. No need to get into personal finances, etc.

(snip)
Unfortunately, I have bills to pay so I am forced to ask about this. I do worry that at some point in the near future I will be unable to pay my rent if there is no resolution shortly.
(snip)
It is my very strong desire to see this job through to the end of the school year and I have put everything that I can into making this school year as successful as possible for all of my students.

Unfortunately, we all have bills to pay. Sorry if that sounds a bit snarky, but That paragraph is an excellent example for what to omit.

Bold above is a good ending. The strike-out sounds a bit too "oh pity me. SOB" if that makes sense.

I'm not a writer but maybe something like "I take pride in my work ethic and have made this school year a success for all of my students."

Or maybe that paragraph shouldn't be included either. Maybe that, too, is cutting into personal information. I get the voting yourself up thought, but what you're actually doing is seeking information.

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TootsNYC

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Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2020, 04:49:43 pm »
I'll be honest--my eyes glazed over. It's too long, it's too wordy, sentences are too long, tht's all kinds of "argument" and "Logical steps" that frankly he knows if he's got half a brain.

I think you should start over, and you should FIRST just write down in two sentences, what do you want to know?

'Will I qualify for unemployment?" is the core, right?
And then maybe "If X, I will not qualify for unemployment. I want to persuade you that you should give me X."

Then you can add just a little more framing. But really this is a simple question.

Two paragraphs, each 'graph only about 6 sentences.
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Rose Red

Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2020, 06:50:08 pm »
Maybe it's because I'm not in academic but I found it too long, too detailed, and I only skimmed it after the first few sentences.

I think it's best to just come right out (in a polite and professional way) and ask what the salary situation is since this is unexpected and unprecedented.
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kittyfan43

Re: Is this a good letter to my superintendent?
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2020, 04:54:04 pm »
Sorry, I haven't had time to reply but things are being worked out with the school system. I never sent this letter or anything like it. They sent me a letter telling me not to work until further notice after having told all the AP teachers to keep teaching so I will get paid for my time.

Stay safe everyone!
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