During a recent government meeting, educators from Dodge City High School raised urgent concerns regarding a significant deficiency in collaborative and planning time for teachers, particularly at the middle school level. The discussions highlighted that two middle school teachers are considering leaving their positions due to overwhelming workloads and insufficient planning time, which they feel compromises their work-life balance.

One teacher expressed that the demands of the job have led to a critical decision: prioritizing family over their teaching role. This sentiment underscores a broader issue within the district, where inadequate planning time is prompting educators to seek employment elsewhere, potentially exacerbating staffing shortages.

The meeting also addressed the inequity in planning time across different grade levels. While some educators suggested reducing planning time for others to balance the workload, others argued that this approach would not resolve the underlying issues faced by middle school teachers. Instead, they proposed increasing planning time for those who currently have less, particularly at the middle school level, where teachers reportedly have the least amount of planning time compared to their counterparts.

In an effort to find solutions, one suggestion included the potential elimination of a team time day, converting it into personal planning time. Additionally, concerns were raised about interruptions during planning periods at the elementary level, where teachers are required to escort students between classes, further diminishing their available planning time.

The discussions reflect a critical need for the district to reassess its scheduling and resource allocation to ensure that teachers can effectively manage their responsibilities while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As the situation develops, the district may need to implement changes to retain valuable educators and improve overall job satisfaction.