Teachers....a question for you.

Daisy582

Do you keep a mini-fridge in your classroom? I have had one in my room for 5 years and have never been told that I couldn't have it. Today our new principal sent out an e-mail saying that all teachers had to have their personal fridges removed from school (and microwaves, if you have one) by Friday...that's it, no previous warning! I am ticked. I plan on pumping at school after I return from maternity leave...there is no way in he** I am leaving that in the "community" mini-fridge down the hall! grrrrrrrrr......

yellowtulips80

i have one.  my principal doesn't really mind them but i do keep it hidden under a table with a table cloth.  Most people never realize that I have it in the room unless they see me go into it.  I just prefer my students not know I have it or they will want to cram all their crap into to it.

dragon_chica

Our district is the same way but we still have them.  You should look up what the law is regarding pumping/breastfeeding at work.

Lil'Misa

We aren't allowed to have anything in our rooms either. It was new as of last year. So no fridges or microwaves in our classrooms too. Sorry

Lil'Misa

yellowtulips80:

i have one.  my principal doesn't really mind them but i do keep it hidden under a table with a table cloth.  Most people never realize that I have it in the room unless they see me go into it.  I just prefer my students not know I have it or they will want to cram all their crap into to it.

 

I like this idea of hiding it under a cloth. Smart thinking!

policewife08

I have a fridge and a micro in my closet.  Our district had the great idea to save money that they would begin charging the teachers to have the "extras" in their classrooms.  This included lamps, alarm clocks, fans, heaters, radios, coffee machines...  Our union went BSC and the district decided that it wasn't such a great idea. 

 I would talk to your union, if you have one.  Then maybe bring your situation up to the prince and see what he says.  He might allow it if it is hidden.

rschmitt

We are not supposed to have them, but I plan on putting one in my storage closet for when I pump.  We have rules that they can be in work rooms, but not classrooms, so the academic teachers all have one near their classroom, but I don't have one near by the art room.

ClaireBennett

Daisy582:

Do you keep a mini-fridge in your classroom? I have had one in my room for 5 years and have never been told that I couldn't have it. Today our new principal sent out an e-mail saying that all teachers had to have their personal fridges removed from school (and microwaves, if you have one) by Friday...that's it, no previous warning! I am ticked. I plan on pumping at school after I return from maternity leave...there is no way in he** I am leaving that in the "community" mini-fridge down the hall! grrrrrrrrr......

Our union protects breastfeeding women having a fridge in their room to store breast milk.  You have to have an environment conducive to breasfteeding and comfortable to you.  Staff fridges are not good places to be leaving breast milk... ask your union rep!

j_hope

We used to be allowed to have them, but 2 years ago...when budgeting became an issue the school district determined that they could save a lot of energy cost if they got rid of the mini-fridges in the classrooms.  Every since then, we have not been able to have them in our room.  I agree with you that it sucks!

chrystaleigh

I have to have my fridge, where would I put all of my snacks?!

mtendere

I was in a school district that implemented a similar policy.  I'd approach your principal about the breastfeeding issue so you can get it cleared up soon.  If he/she balks, then I'd contact a union rep.  Or you could get a note from your doctor about breastfeeding/breastmilk.  Of course, you'll probably not be able to have it plugged in until you're actually breastfeeding, but it would be best to clear it up before it became a battle.

Daisy582

Thanks y'all! We have no union in SC which completely sucks. I think I can totally sell my need for a private place to store my breast milk...no one is ever comfortable talking about that except pg women and nursing mommies!

wwsurf81

Our school did this too.  We got the notice this spring.  It was because the school system felt the need to save energy and didn't want so many appliances plugged in.  They also decided to not turn on the AC until students arrive and turn it off after school, so when I get there in the morning and after school it is soooo hot in my room.  Meanwhile, the office wing of our school is nice and cool.  Funny how that works.  I bet they have personal fridges too.  Is there any way that you can get special permission to have a mini-fridge because you are pumping?  I don't blame you for not wanting to put it in the community fridge.  Tell them that it's either let you have one or you can't come back to work.  I would think they'd be willing to let you.

i*heart*him

We can't have them, fire hazard.  I have a great lunch bag that keeps things cold.

Jessica424

My school had the same rule so I pumped and kept my milk in a medela cooler in the fridge in the nurse's office. 

DiscusCoach

We are not allowed to have fans, fridges, coffee makers....

tdaisy101

We are no longer allowed them in our rooms.  It is now a state law in NJ.

triplenine

We had them for years, but our principal made us take them out too.  We have 3 in the teachers room which I really don't want to use but I may have to.  He does however let us keep them in closets that children do not go into. 

 

triplenine

Hiding it may not work.. Our Custodians knew they were there and  ratted us out, the mean guy anyway.

Tonya_G

Our school provides one for us. Tell him you need it to put breastmilk in, and if he has an issue with that, you can store it in his office. See how he likes them apples. LOL Seriously though, go to him, talk with him, if he's still unreasonable, talk to your union rep and see if there's anything they can do for you.