Adam looked up from his computer screen to focus on the office administrator’s face.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing?”
Harriet’s lifted eyebrow served as a cautionary warning.
“The PTA in a small town carries a lot of power and influence. You don’t want to make enemies of these people. They will make your life a living hell if they feel you’re not delivering on the district’s promise to educate their ‘precious babies.’”
The amount of sarcasm he heard in Harriet’s voice was more potent than any eye-roll Adam had ever witnessed. “Don’t underestimate them or the president.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly heavy with tension and discomfort. He was new to the district, and it wouldn’t serve him well to make enemies this early in the game, especially when he didn’t have to. He nodded, agreeing with Harriet, before he spoke again.
“Fine, I’ll take your advice and tread carefully. But Harriet?” She waited for him to continue, giving him her full attention. “My job is to do what’s best for the district and the kids. I won’t take my eye off the ball for anyone.”
“I understand, sir,” Harriet replied before turning back the way she came.
Adam watched her leave his doorway, thinking over what was happening. He may be the one in charge, but he was smart enough to know that as the “new guy” he had to prove his worth to everyone, from the board of education to the office staff in the administration building. That apparently included the volunteerswho partnered with the district to provide kids with a balanced and full education.
In any case, that interim in front of his title meant that he had no time for distractions. A pissed-off PTA president was a danger he couldn’t risk if he was to get the district to drop that particular qualifier from his position. Resigned to do his best to stay civil and open, he went back to preparing for the board meeting. There was a lot riding on it. It was the first where the board would introduce him to the community. Nothing, and he meant absolutely nothing, could go wrong and shake the confidence he needed the parents in this town to have in him. PTA or no, Adam was going to make a good impression.
All he had to do was keep his foot out of his mouth, and he was certain things would go well.
Fortified by his mission, he went back to the reports opened up on his screen. He was working hard for this opportunity. There was no one he’d willingly allow to compromise that.
Chapter 13
Janae walked into the district office, heading straight for the auditorium. She’d been a member of the PTA since James had started pre-K, so there wasn’t a corner of any of the schools he’d attended that she wasn’t familiar with.
Monroe Hills Area School District was small in comparison to some of the bigger districts like Mt. Pocono. Most of its schools, with the exception of the middle school and high school, were one- to two-story buildings that made the schools look more modern and welcoming than some of the tall, institutional-looking schools she’d seen in big cities like New York.
“Hi, Janae,” Harriet called out as she found Janae walking through the main corridor. The fact that the administrative assistant to the superintendent knew her by name was one of the things she appreciated about her child attending school in a small town.
With the exception of this new interim superintendent, these people weren’t strangers. They knew her, they knew her son, and Janae and James knew them. It didn’t mean they always saw things eye to eye. It did make it easier to talk across the aisle, so to speak, because they were in such close proximity to the community they served.
“I’m glad to see you could make it. I imagine you want to talk about the arts program being cut.”
There wasn’t any use in subterfuge. Janae anticipated every person in that room knew why she was here today. Janae intended to lay it all on the line when she stepped up to the podium to speak.
“Yeah. I know I’m a little early. But I was hoping to get a glimpse of the new superintendent. What are your thoughts on them?”
Harriet moved her head back and forth as if she was considering how best to answer Janae’s question.
“I’ve only worked with him for a few weeks, but so far he’s organized, forthright, and direct. He has a very clear vision of how he wants to attack the district’s problems. Even though he’s comfortable in his authority, he seems open to listening to those around him. I think if this board gives him a chance, he could probably do some real good for our kids.”
Janae’s body relaxed with Harriet’s assessment. A level head and an open ear was a recipient for success in leadership as far as she was concerned. As a supervisor, she knew you couldn’t always meet every desire of the people under your supervision, but listening and giving their views real consideration always led to better outcomes.
The board had decided to hire an outsider. That decision had received lots of criticism. That was probably why they hadn’t released a name yet.
Janae could easily see that decision as being part keeping their in-boxes from being overrun and part giving the individual the chance to get settled in town without every parent in Monroe Hills showing up on their doorstep about district matters.
Monroe Hills was pretty insular, so whomever this person was, they had to be truly impressive for the board to forgo hiring from within.
Granted, the last time they’d tried that the superintendent had caused their school district to suffer. Student performance was down, and his overspending was probably why the district was inthe financial straits it was in, and needed to put the arts program on the chopping block in the first place.
Hopefully, this new person was better equipped to handle their current situation. And if they were, they’d see that cutting the arts program wasn’t the only option to save money.
Janae could see more people entering the building. “I guess I’d better get inside if I want to get a good seat. You know half the people here tonight probably don’t have a kid or grandkid in the district. They just want to be nosy and see who the new guy is.”
She said her goodbyes to Harriet and made her way into the auditorium, seating herself on an aisle seat that would make getting to the podium easier.
