Sigh. Budget cuts.

Kind of out of nowhere last week, we received an e-mail notification that my children's school had laid off seven teachers. I know that schools everywhere are cutting back, and that our school (private, Christian) was experiencing some budgetary issues due to enrollment being down. There were layoffs of aides right at the beginning of the year, but no indications that others were to follow. Unfortunately, one of the casualties was Jeremiah's kindergarten teacher. If you're the praying type, take the time to say a little prayer for Rebekah Haught, who finds herself without the job she's held for the last 12 years. Sad. As of yesterday, Jeremiah is now in a combined Kindergarten/1st grade class (the 1st grade teacher, Sarah Leonard, was also let go. Another prayer please!) which is being taught by a lovely lady, Carol Morgan. Mrs. Morgan had been the special education teacher up until the layoffs. Jeremiah has been having a tough time with it, not because he doesn't like Mrs. Morgan (he does) but because he really loved Rebekah. I have to brag a bit and say that she told me he was her favorite (of course she may have said that to all the parents :), but I do know that she thought he was pretty special). This also puts us kind of in limbo for next year. The hope of the school is to: A. Increase enrollment for next year, and B. Be able to afford a separate K and 1st grade teacher. But, it's not a done deal, of course. So, again, if you're the praying type, say a prayer for all of us affected by this. I've got some big decisions to make, and they aren't going to come easily.