"Nice of them to call it an ice skating rink, too," Adrian said. "Not many New Zealand schools would have that in an official drawing."
"It's even more elaborate than the original plans of five years ago," Sonja said. "When does it start, Roxanne?"
"They'll be calling tenders next term and hope to begin building in the new year. Hopefully, it will be ready by this time next year. With new modular designs, the construction time is quite fast compared to when the other blocks were built."
"A fitting climax to Karla's time with us," Ian said and glanced across at her. "Unless she decides to stay longer, that is."
Karla smiled. "It's not really up to me," she said. "I have a year's contract and release from my Tui Park for that time. I'm thrilled about the progress made since my arrival, including this board's contributions"
"I wonder about this last letter," Roxanne said and flipped over a page on her clipboard.
Everyone stopped their cheerful chatter and stared at her.
"Problem?" Sonya asked.
Roxanne shrugged. "Not really, I guess. Don Trow has written to formally ask for two terms leave and include a medical certificate to support his request."
"So if we grant it, he'll return the term after Karla leaves us," Blake Turner who hadn't said much all evening replied. "What's the bet, he'll waltz back in and ignore everything you've done to help us, Karla?"
An intense discussion followed but unlike earlier meetings there was no divided opinion, more a query about the actions they should take, from whether they should refuse or approve the request to whether they should demand his resignation because of the missing money. Karla pointed out that it was true that the money was missing but as it was still being investigated by the police there was no proof that Don Trow took the money or altered the books.
"Until the police press charges and a court case is held, we have no foundation for requesting his resignation and removing him from his position could just result in a claim of unfair dismissal. This could drag on for years and actually cost the Board more in court fees than the money lost in the PTA account."
"So we just turn his request down?" Adrain asked.
"With the medical certificate and the injuries he received, imagine how the media would blow it all up," Sonya said. "Don Trow could also request dismissal of the board and the replacement by a commissioner."
"Is that possible?" Tyler McKegg asked.
"Extremely," Karla said. "It was part of my contract here. If I found that I could not work with you, I was given the power to recommend that this board is dismissed and a commissioner appointed until new elections are held."
Faces looked glum and even Sonya raised her eyebrows.
Karla looked around the table. "Don't worry, I have never considered that move, not even when we were still getting to know each other. In the democratic system that we have, everyone has a right to disagree with motions without fear of retaliation. "
"So could you recommend that Don Trow is dismissed?" Blake asked.
"Only if there are grounds and it would be to this board. You are his employer, not the Ministry of Education."
"So we've got our hands tied," Jasmine Scott, the teacher representative said. "Until Don is found guilty of stealing from the school or making false entries in the PTA accounts we can't sack him, recommend he resigns or turn down his request for medical leave."
"It appears so," someone muttered.
"How about a compromise?" Rita Southerland, the eighteen-year-old student representative on the board asked. "I take Legal Studies through OtagoNet as one of my NCEA Level 3 papers. Don't medical certificates for leave from a position have a limited lifespan of three months before they have to be renewed?"
Sonya nodded. "I think you're right, Rita, but go on."
"Well that's really one term. Why don't we grant Mr Trow leave until the end of next term, that is Christmas and request that he returns to work at the beginning of next year. Karla still has one term here next year so he will have to cooperate with her during that time?"
"And by then the police may charge him over that money," Jasmine said.
"Or if he refuses to cooperate, that could be grounds for his dismissal?" Adrian added.
"The opposite is also true," Ian Holland said. "If nothing is proven about that PTA money and he comes back and cooperates with Karla there will be no reason he can't continue on."
"But it gives us all time," Blake said. "I would like to put Rita's idea forward."
Karla was pleased with the unanimous vote to pass the motion. The board were now working together rather than being in two opposing groups. This was followed by another motion that her position of Change Principal absorbed the position of acting principal so there was no need to appoint anybody else.
Karla shook her head. "No" she said. "Thank you for your confidence in me but the reason for my appointment here is to train and lead. If I just do everything a principal does, what happens when I leave?"
" I thought we covered that when we only approved one term's leave for Don," Tyler said.
"Karla's thinking outside the square," Blake replied. "What happens if he resigns and doesn't return for the last term she is here? If we have an acting principal that she can guide and they prove to be capable, we could appoint him as the new permanent principal."
"... Or her," Karla interjected.
Curious eyes stared at her before Sonja coughed.
"You have obviously thought about this, Karla. What do you suggest?
"A generation back, promotions in the teaching profession were like the public service of those days. Everyone moved up through the ranks with seniority as important as ability; a senior teacher became a deputy principal, moved up to be principal of a small country school, onto a larger school or a school such as ours that caters for both primary and secondary pupils. After a few years and with a little luck they'd become principal of a large city school."
"Like your position in Wellington?" Adrain asked.
"True. Under the old system I could not have been appointed to that position until I had spent ten or twelve years in charge of smaller schools."
"And the point of this discussion?" Ian asked.
"I think the strongest person on the staff should be offered the acting principal's position, not just move senior staff up a notch."
"And who is that?" Sonya asked.
Karla expected an argument when she told them but was surprised at the response. Eyebrows were raised and members gazed at each other or grimaced but nobody openly objected.
"And you will approach the unsuccessful staff members as well as the one you wish to appoint?" Jasmine asked.
"I will," Karla replied. "Of course if she doesn't want the position we can move onto our second choice."
"And what about any backlash?" Tyler replied.
"I'll help the new acting-principal to cope. If feelings run high and staff resign, so be it. It will be a personal decision."
AT EIGHT THIRTY ON the last day of the school term, Karla walked into Room 1 that was already a hive of activity. Being Year Zero to Two levels, there were always parents there in the morning, taking off their children's coats, checking they had everything and wanting to chat with Brandi Shellard.
The couple of parents talking to the teacher looked up, smiled at Karla and after a few comments about the cold morning, stepped aside.
Brandi herself looked apprehensive as she looked at Karla. "Welcome to Room 1," she said. "Bit of a shambles with the cold weather and so many coats, boots and bags, I'm afraid. Is there something you want Karla?"
"Yes," Karla replied. "Can you come to my office at nine fifteen. Elena can take your class until morning interval?" Elena was a local woman and teacher who was employed on a casual basis when teachers were ill or attending in-service courses.
Brandi's apprehensive look deepened. "It must be important."
Karla smiled slightly. "Just following up on something at last night's board meeting."
Brandi grimaced. "I knew there was something happening?"
"How come?"
"Jasmine came in to chat just before you arrived. She never just drops in to chat before school, being at the other end of the block in Room 4."
"What did she say?"
"Nothing. It was just her body language and now with you here at this time..."
"See you at quarter past nine," Karla said, smiled at some of the little children around and left the room.
"COME IN AND TAKE A seat," Karla said to Brandi forty-five minutes later.
Brandi nodded and sat down in one of the armchairs available. In her quite casual clothes of jeans, turtleneck jersey and long brunette hair hanging down over her shoulders she looked even younger than her late-twenties age.
"The Board complained about my clothes, didn't they? I know all the other senior staff wear suits and..." She stopped when Karla sat in the other armchair opposite her and smiled. "... well what, Karla?"
"You want me to be frank?"
Brandi eyes were downcast and she appeared to be waiting for the worst news. "Why not?"
"Your clothes are perfect, especially in your room with little children spilling things and such like. No, it is a entirely different matter." She glanced up. "Don Trow has been granted leave for at least one term and there is every chance it will be extended into next year."
"So you want me step up to Thea's DP in charge of the Junior School position?" Brandi sounded relieved.
"No, I am offering the position as acting principal at Tuckett Area School as from the beginning of October, that's the middle of the holidays so you can be ready for Term Four."
"Me! Why me?" Brandi looked flabbergasted. "What about Clive or Thea?"
"You were considered the best candidate for the position."
"Oh hell! Oops, sorry Karla I never guessed I'd even be in the running. Everyone expected Don to ask for time off but thought you'd just to keep going or Clive would be offered the position. I don't know what to say..." Brandi had the habit of talking too much when she was excited or nervous.
"That you'll accept. There would be a good pay rise, of course."
"But I'm a classroom teacher, not an administrator."
"Who leads the best syndicate in the school and that was even before I arrived."
"The whole school right up to Rita, Peter and those other Year 13s?"
Karla grinned. "They're the easy ones. It's the younger teenagers who need a firm hand. Remember, I'll still be here but it is my intention to step back a little in the everyday running of the school."
"And you want me?" Brandi asked a second time. "What about my class?"
"We'll appoint a relieving teacher, perhaps Elena. Would you like to think about it and get back to me?"
Brandi broke out in a grin. "I'll take it! Oh hell, I guess I'll need to buy that new trouser suit now."
Karla laughed. "Please yourself. Remember, it is confidential at the moment. I have to tell Clive and Thea personally but if you agree, we'll tell the whole staff before everyone leaves this afternoon."
"That'll be fun," Brandi muttered. "I don't think Clive, in particular will like it."
"Probably not," Karla replied. "As principal, you'll find that it is impossible to please everyone."
Brandi stood up looking flushed and excited. "Thanks Karla. I must get back to my class. Being the last day I didn't even have my reading planned."
After Brandi left, Karla thought back to Tui Park when she offered Lexi McKenzie the senior teacher position there. The two women looked nothing alike but in many ways they were similar. Now came the less pleasant task of telling the two deputy principals that they been surpassed for the acting principal's position.
CHAPTER 14
Clive Mortland's face turned dark with anger when Karla told him of the decision not to offer him the acting principal's position. It was, though a delayed reaction for he at first appeared to just shrug it off until Karla mentioned that it had been offered to and accepted by Brandi. Unexpectedly he made no mention of Thea also being bypassed. It was only Brandi that seemed to affect him so much.
"So what have you got against, Brandi?" she retorted.
"Well, if you want an old maid who wants to run the school like a kindergarten, she'll be fine," he muttered.
"That is hardly called for." Karla found something wrong with his outburst and it annoyed her. She expected him to be disappointed but not openly hostile. "I was pleased with your improved attitude over the last term but now..." She glowered at him. "Perhaps I was wrong."
"If you say so, Mrs Spicer," he almost spat back.
"That's it then," Karla said. "I had hoped you would continue to support everyone in making our school a place to be proud of. We were also told that the government will keep our area school status and a new senior block is to be built."
"That's something," he said and appeared to calm down a little.
Karla did likewise. "Your efforts here are appreciated, you know. Go and have a good holiday and think about everything. Contrary to what you may think at the moment, I am not trying to downgrade your status here. I'm sure Brandi will need your expertise in the high school area.
"Doubt it." He sounded hostile again. "If that is all?"
Karla sighed. "It is. Thank you, Clive."
He stared at her for a minute, looked as if he was about to say something but stopped, shrugged and left the office.
KARLA JUST SAT THERE for a moment and only looked up when there was a cough. Roxanne stood there.
"Didn't take it well?" she asked.
Kara shook her head. "And I thought he would be philosophical about it. Thea was disappointed but not almost hostile when I told her the news half an hour ago."
"And you want to know why?"
"I haven't got time for gossip, Roxanne."
"Okay, a few facts, then."
Karla grimaced and waved at the armchair. "Okay, sit down and tell me."
"Clive was dating Brandi before he got Thea to move in with him. The rumour is..." She stopped talking when Karla held her hand up.
"You might as well tell me." Karla muttered
"Brandi comes from Dunedin and was brought up by stern parents and spent her high school years at a Presbyterian boarding school there, all prim and proper and strict from the moral point of view."
"So what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing but everyone here thought Clive and her were really serious, then within a month they had broken up and Thea had shifted in with him. This is the gossip bit. We think she was serious but all he wanted was to bed her, invited her to live with him and was refused." Roxanne rolled her eyes. "You must admit that Brandi is more attractive than Thea."
"Looks aren't everything."
"So true but what Thea lacked in looks she made up in, shall we say availability. That was half the reason locals muttered. It wasn't just because this conservative district is against unmarried people living together."
"Nobody on the board of trustees told me anything about this. When I considered coming here, I was told about them and the controversy was because his wife had left him."
"That was years ago. Since then he has had at least two other casual affairs, one with another staff member."
"Who?" Karla gasped.
"You don't know her but it was the woman that Brandi replaced. Rumours were that she left because of her breakup with Clive."
"And I wasn't told as the board didn't want me to be influenced by knowledge of his nocturnal habits?"
Roxanne nodded. "I think they were bending over backwards to be fair and separate professionalism from personalities. Mind you, most of the pressure was on Don and not Clive, wasn't it?"
"True," Karla said. "I don't like promiscuity but teachers are like the general public. If we discriminated against someone who is that way inclined, half the public servants of this country would be fired." She grinned. "I exaggerate, but you know what I mean?"
Roxanne no
dded and stood up. "Well, it's back to work. There are still a hundred returns to get finished ready for your signing by three."
"Another exaggeration." Karla whispered, "But firstly, get a message around that there will be a special staff meeting at twelve thirty and could relief staff do playground duty for fifteen minutes as I want all permanent staff present."
"Announce it over the intercom?"
"No, get the duty pupil to take a written message around. The last thing we need is for the senior pupils to start another rumour."
Roxanne smiled. "You're a true diplomat. Karla."
"Realist is a better word." Karla grinned. "Thanks for the info. It explained a lot about Clive's reaction."
EVERYTHING ABOUT KARLA's return visit to Luxton Road School was different, even the weather was warm with spring growth around and lambs and calves running around the farms she drive by. She was alone this time for Ryan's support wasn't needed and everyone there knew she was coming. She arrived a little before morning interval and walked in to the sound of bleating lambs in the school paddock on the far side of the schoolhouse. Like many country schools, farmers had donated ewes and their time to the school. Wool and lambs were a valuable source of income for the school.
After having the door opened by a pupil, she walked into the classroom where everything was different from her original visit. All the children were in the main classroom and they all stopped their work to greet her enthusiastically. When Ethan came across to welcome her, a senior boy stepped into his place to take three juniors who were reading from a large book sitting on an easel.
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