And it All Started with a Big Bang!

Who doesn't like a catchy theme song to a sitcom, and even better if the show is good, right! I am a big fan of smart T.V. and the Big Bang Theory (Monday nights on CBS) is very smart and funny. It hits close to home, as one of the main characters, Sheldon, has some OCD tendencies that I share. I personally see nothing wrong with sitting in the same place all the time or eating the same thing all the time but back to my story.

Living in Hollywood has its perks, one being that many shows are filmed here so for my birthday Sarah and our friend Emily got me tickets to see the show filmed "before a live studio audience"! It was very cool. Emily has a friend who is also a huge fan of the show and she got us the tickets because she has been to tapings many times before and knows all the pages so we got treated very well, we were first in line, had front row seats and I got my DVD signed by the cast and the creator Chuck Lorre.

When you first get into the your seats on the stage they show you a previously filmed episode, we were seeing the third episode being taped so we got to see the season premiere which was so cool because it won't be on T.V. for a couple more weeks. Then they start filming, it is like a play, start to finish, scene by scene. There was this guy who was in charge of the audience and was slightly amusing, he played audience games and gave out candy and such. Then about an hour in everyone got a piece of pizza and a bottle of water.

The filming got done around 9 which I understand to be early, some go until 11 or 12 but everything had run smoothly.

So when you watch the third episode of the season listen for the audience laughter - it's me!!!!

Response from School Board

This is the response I received today from the office of the President of the school board for the district. Frankly I am impressed to get a response and that she checked my status. I can't wait for the other 1,200 teachers to get hired so I can get my job back!

Dear Ms. Knapp,

Thank you for your email to Board President García. On the surface, it may appear that we do not care about our employees. The fact is that we do care a great deal.

I want to acknowledge that this situation must be extremely upsetting and frustrating. Working as an extended substitute certainly does not compare with being a contracted teacher. We’re not satisfied with this outcome, either--the District worked hard to recruit you, and we do not want to lose you. No one wanted the layoffs to happen. The goal has always been to maintain as many teaching positions as possible. Very difficult decisions were made in order for the District to remain solvent while still being able to meet the needs of our students.

On the positive side, you will have guaranteed employment (other RIF’d teachers whose schools were not able to bring them on as extended subs do not have this assurance) and you will qualify for health benefits effective October 1st because you worked the whole year last year. However, I checked your status, and unfortunately, there are approximately 1,200 elementary teachers with more seniority who would have to be offered reemployment before we could legally reach you on the list.

I wish I could help more.

With best wishes,

Amy

Amy Cooper

Deputy Chief of Staff

Office of Board President Mónica García

Los Angeles Unified School District