diff --git a/slate/slate.py b/slate/slate.py
index a985e1c..01c8f2b 100644
--- a/slate/slate.py
+++ b/slate/slate.py
@@ -126,16 +126,18 @@ class Slate():
         child_keys = '.'.join(keys_arr[1:])
         return self.consume(child, child_keys, default=default, **kwargs)
 
-    def _calc_num_jobs(self, schedulerC):
-        reps = schedulerC.get('repetitions', 1)
-        agents_per_job = schedulerC.get('agents_per_job', 1)
-        reps_per_agent = schedulerC.get('reps_per_agent', 1)
+    def _calc_num_jobs(self, schedC):
+        schedulerC = copy.deepcopy(schedC)
+        reps = schedulerC.consume('repetitions', 1)
+        agents_per_job = schedulerC.consume('agents_per_job', 1)
+        reps_per_agent = schedulerC.consume('reps_per_agent', 1)
         reps_per_job = reps_per_agent * agents_per_job
         jobs_needed = math.ceil(reps / reps_per_job)
         return jobs_needed
 
-    def _reps_for_job(self, schedulerC, job_id):
-        reps = schedulerC.get('repetitions', 1)
+    def _reps_for_job(self, schedC, job_id):
+        schedulerC = copy.deepcopy(schedC)
+        reps = schedulerC.consume('repetitions', 1)
         if job_id == None:
             return list(range(0, reps))
         num_jobs = self._calc_num_jobs(schedulerC)