So I get this job offer...And I need immediate advice!

Took an interview at Talent Unlimited High School today.  East 68th and third.  Went in with low expectations.  And with my former employer from PPAS who is essentially my 'agent' -- she's looking to snag them for a future contract.  The meeting was complex because she had never met them either and she was in big 'sell ' mode.  So they have this job they need filled.  I'm looking for a job.  And she's looking for a client!  

I'm the perfect candidate.  They want someone to teach one period of 'Voice and Speech' and one period of 'Production' (which sounds more intimidating than it is).  Here's the catch.  It's two back-to-back periods in the afternoon (1 and 1/2 hours) FIVE DAYS A WEEK! for 90 bucks a day.

My issue -- as perfect as I am for the position, and regardless of the 'future opportunity', to attempt to build a work-week enough to pay my rent around this feels crazy.

So yesterday, I'm with my friend Robin (not Hatcher) who teaches music at Mid-Town West.  She tells me about "F status" -- a contract with the DOE that is a part-time employee (I think it's 20 hours) with full benefits.

So I 'm in this meeting where I can't get any questions posed because this woman beside me is so busy selling herself.  I attempt to get as many clear specs on the position as I can.  And it's much bigger than it ever was when this woman employed me at PPAS, where I was totally left on my own (which was great).  This school is all over accountability (which is fine) and integrated curriculum (which is great) and all this other stuff that means meetings and charts and spreadsheets and all this work! which when you amortize down 450 bucks a week (lets not forget prep to fit in to their integrated curriculum -- I'd be re-building my work from scratch! and travel time) works out to bup-kiss money.  Plus I'm totally committed every afternoon, five days a week, keeping me out of other money-making opportunities!

Here's one thing -- creatively what they want me to integrate and build would be good work that would fulfill me.  Alot of classic stuff -- Greeks, comedia del 'arte, Shakespeare!  Love that stuff (and I guarantee you they're gonna have a hard time finding anybody with the experience I've had in classical theatre)

And they want a decision next week.

So we get to the end of the meeting (and I gotta go!  I got a meeting with Scholastic at 2pm) and I say " Can this be made into an 'F status' gig?

Some silence.  

One of the reasons they contacted my former employer is that they have to outsource due to budget cuts.  They've never had to do this before.  Now I'm asking for a DOE job that they would have to sponser.  More money than they wanted to spend, else they wouldn't have contacted the contractor to begin with.

So we get in the cab with my 'agent' and I say "Look, it's gonna be hard for me to make this work, we need to talk."

Her response was "get me info on F Status and how much it will cost and I'll see if I can negotiate for you."

I hate the fact that there's an "agent" involved in this deal.  I want so much to approach the buyers myself but I feel uncomfortable.  I hate that there's a middle-man here.

And I have a direct request -- does any one know anything about how the F Status pays?  I tried to navigate the DOE website (ha ha) and couldn't get any detailed information.  Does anyone know anyone I can contact to help me gather info?  Right now, where I sit, I can't imaging closing off my week sooo tightly for 90 bucks a day.  With benefits???  Now maybe we can talk.  But we have to talk soon.

Ugh.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Any help.  Really.  Joyce-stream-of-consciousness really.  Talk to me?

xo ML