What Do I Do Now, Mom?
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 60 

The Second Time

I was in the library when the teachers started to arrive.  I had put the materials for each of the teachers at the tables by grade level.  Once we had started, one of the third grade teachers mentioned, “Mr. Adler, I heard that we’re going to have large classes, this year.”

“Carolyn, we had to turn the projected  enrollment numbers into the central office on Friday.  The Board is reviewing the numbers today and we should know something by tomorrow.  I wanted to warn you to not try and have everything perfect for open house, tomorrow evening.  The important thing today is get your schedules worked out with the specialists.  We already have a lunch schedule made out.  I should be in the office the rest of the day, as far as I know, now, to answer questions.   Please feel free to stop in and visit if you have any questions.”

It was almost lunch time, when Walt and Michael entered the office. “Michael, I was surprised to see you in the band, this morning.”

Michael giggled, “You have no idea how surprised I was to be there this morning.”

Walt grinned, “We got to the band room early and Michael was messing around on a drum set while we were waiting for the other band members to show up.  Mr. Swags was listening to Michael play  and asked why he wasn’t in the band?”

Michael took over, “I told him that I didn’t live here, that I was visiting from Chicago.”

Walt took over, “It was time for rehearsal to start and the bass drum player hadn’t showed.  Mr. Swags asked Michael to play the drum.  Mike did so, and he was far better than any of the other drummers.  After practice, I showed Mike around the school.  That’s why we’re so late.  Can you give us a lift home, so we don’t have to call Witt.  Wade is still at school.  One of his teammates is going to take him home.”

As we were riding to the farm, Michael asked, “Mr. Adler, is there any way I could transfer here to go to school.  I could get a new start here.  I talked to the enrollment people and they told me that I might need to take some remedial courses, depending on my transcripts.”

“Michael, that is something that you and your Grandfather, Doctor Hubbard, need to discuss.  Where would you be living?”

Walt interrupted, “Dad, we talked about that, and he could live with us, since some of us will be moving into the trailer this week as soon as the Wallaces and our sisters have moved into our old house,”

“Guys, don’t make too many premature plans.  This is a decision that is not for just the three of us to make.”

As I was leaving to go back to school after a sandwich, I warned Witt, “Be careful of what Michael might do.  He’s a very confused young man.”

At three thirty I was called to the Central Office.  Gloria had no idea what the meeting was about, so I was totally in the dark.  When I arrived at the central office, there were four other principals waiting.

Finally the Board Room opened and Dr. Brown ushered us in.  Mrs. Fisher, the president of the board welcomed us, “Relax, this is not really bad news; but it might cause you to make some major adjustments.”

“Mr. Adler, we’re going to be adding at least two more classrooms, and probably four, to your enrollment.  You have trailers already in place where you can house at least four classes.  I know that they have been being used by the gifted and talented program to conduct classes and seminars, but we’ll just have to find other facilities for them to use.”

I raised my hand, “Am I going to have a choice as far as the teachers who will be working in my building?  There aren’t very many qualified applicants available at this time of year.”

Dr. Brown shook his head, “Hank, don’t be so pessimistic.  There have been some excellent applications received in the last several weeks.  Some of them are new arrivals and there are surrounding districts that are cutting back.  Why don’t you principals look through the applicant files and we’ll set up interviews after the district get together, tomorrow.  We have updated the student list for the building, as we have them.  We need to keep in mind that some of these people may not show, but there are still other people who haven‘t registered their children.  We need to be flexible and ready to greet the children and charge into school year.”

I was the last person to leave the central office.  When I arrived at the school, it was almost five o’clock, so there were still a number of people there.  I went into the office and put out an all call.  Those teachers who were still present came to the office and I told them what was happening. 

Ann Dancer looked around, “This is why we shouldn’t make too many plans until after we see the whites of the students' eyes.  Mr. Hamilton would have just plugged the students into the existing classroom.”

I stood, “We need to get out of here.  We have to be at the high school for breakfast and the motivational speaker, in the morning at eight o’clock.  I think you will really be impressed with the guest speaker.  I’ve gotten to know him personally.”

Gloria asked, “Mr. Adler, do you have any idea what classes these new people are going to be in?”

“Gloria, I’ll come back tonight and see what I can make out of the two lists.  There won’t be time tomorrow before open house to do it.”

When I got to the farm, it was so late that everyone was all ready to eat.  Billy asked, “Dad, are you always this late?  Ms Dancer called and asked it I would organize the patrol for tomorrow night to act as guides for the visitors.”

“Billy, it’s certainly fine with me, as long your Daddy has no objection.  It’s going to be confusing because I was informed that we are probably going to have four new classrooms this year.  I have to sort out the new names and see what we have, before tomorrow.”

Michael interjected, “Perhaps I can be of some assistance if you have a computer.  We could put the names and simple information in a data base so you can see what you have to work with.”

After dinner, Michael and I went to the computer in Randy’s and my bedroom and it took Michael approximately an hour to format and enter the names and the information we had available on all of the new students.  We made up class lists for the four new classes without any teacher names.

“Michael, thanks very much for your help.  This will save us hours. Is there any way to save these lists so I can retrieve them at school?  We’ll make one hardcopy list of what we have, just in case there is a glitch.”

“Sir, we should be able to do that, but I’d have to know where to send it.”

The house had been quiet while Michael and I had been working.  When we went downstairs, there was no one in sight.  We went outside and we saw the wagon, van and the truck returning from the Latham farm.

When everyone arrived, they looked a little tired.  Randy announced, “We have the Wallaces moved in.  After the guys clean the trailer tomorrow, some of the guys can move in.” 

I shook my head, “Guys, you can take your time.  We’re fine living as we are.  Dr. Hubbard, I hope our guys aren’t working you to death.”

“No, but I am tired.   I would appreciate it if someone would take me to the motel, so I can review my presentation for your meeting tomorrow.”

“Randy and I will take you.”

As we were going to the motel, Dr. Hubbard commented, “I really think that you are getting through to Michael.  He made several references about going to school here this year.”

I nodded, “Yes, I know.  I deliberately haven’t commented.  I told him that it was between him, you and his dad.  I have no problem with him going to school here and staying with us, but he would have to understand that what Randy and I say, goes.  This is a bad time of year for me to be going to Chicago and getting the rest of his things.  I think there needs to be a responsible adult with him when and if he moves his things here.”

“Dr. Hubbard, do you need a ride to the breakfast tomorrow morning?”

“No, Dr. Brown is picking me up.”

When Randy and I were riding back to the farm, he asked, “What are we going to do about Michael?

“What we’re going to do about Michael is a group decision.”

When we arrived at the house Walt and Wade were waiting for us.  Walt announced, “Dads, we don’t have practice in the morning since the coaches and Mr. Swags have to go to the breakfast and Dr. Hubbard’s presentation.  Is there anything that you need us to do?”

“Guys, you know what has to be done as well as I do.  Take some time to enjoy your last days of freedom.  I may not be back, once I leave in the morning, until after the open house at school is over.  Just make sure the guys, especially Billy, get to the open house on time.”

When I arrived at the high school, I met up with Gloria and some of the teachers from school.  After we went through the serving line and were seated at a table,  I informed those people who hadn’t heard, what was happening.”

Judy Kloster, the media specialist commented, “This is going to make some changes in everyone’s schedule.  The specialists already have full schedules.”

“Believe me, Judy, we’ll make sure that everyone gets their fair share of planning time.  The biggest problem we have now is filling the classroom teacher’s positions, which I will be doing this afternoon.  We have to get some qualified teachers; then we’ll worry about the specialist positions.”

After a so, so breakfast, we were directed to the auditorium which was jammed packed because all of the teachers and staff were there for the meeting.  I guess the word had gotten out that absences would not be tolerated.

The opening went well and Dr. Hubbard did an excellent job and his presentation was well received.  As he was ending his presentation, he commented, “I have gotten to know some of your staff and family  quite well and must commend them for their dedication to the students of your district.”

Dr. Brown took over, “Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the Belleview Schools Foundation president, Dr. Sullivan.  He has some awards to present.”

Dr. Sullivan started presenting the awards for the best Custodian, Best Secretary, and finally came to the Outstanding Teacher award.  “Ladies and gentleman, it give me great pleasure to present this award.  The winner of the award is no longer a teacher, but this is the second time that this person has won the award.  Will Mr. Henry Adler please come forward?”

 

I maneuvered toward the stage from the center of the auditorium where I was sitting, since I had no inclination that I would be receiving an award.  I heard a bunch of familiar excited voices coming from the back of the auditorium.  I looked out when I got to the stage and saw that our entire family, including my parents, were in attendance.

After the meeting was adjourned.  My boys came to talk to me, and I reminded them that I had to go to the central office to hire four more teachers.

It was nearly three thirty when I had agreed on four new teachers.  Two were just recent graduates from college over the summer and had never taught on their own.  The third was a young mother who had just moved to the area.  She wanted to get back into teaching now that her children were in school.  The fourth teacher was a gentleman who was older than me who had had just retired from the Air Force and gotten his teaching degree.  He was originally going to leave the area, but his teenage children rebelled.

I had the four new teacher’s only take care of the basic contract so they could appear to be somewhat organized when the students arrived that night for open house. 

I never did have an opportunity to eat before the students and parents started to arrive.  All the permanent staff was present, even the four new hires.  The biggest problem was that there were twelve additional new students who enrolled.

At eight o’clock, Mrs. Wischman came into the office, “Hank, congratulations on a great open house.  No one seemed to complain about the facility’s state of readiness.  There were enough of us, who knew what was happening, spread throughout the building and trailers to fend of the questions.”

We have a group of gentlemen who are willing to help set up the rooms in the trailers if you should need their help.

After I made sure that the building was secure, I was walking to the parking lot with Billy.  “Where is everyone else?”

“They went to the high school, since Witt and Walt were both greeters, and Wade, Michael and Dr. Hubbard wanted to see what the high school was going to be like.”

“So, is Michael planning to go to school here?”

“I don’t honestly know.  I know that Dad, Dr. Hubbard and the guys were talking about Michael going to school here.  I think they want to talk to you about it when you get home.”

I was surprised to see Dr. Hubbard at the farm when we arrived.  They hardly gave me an opportunity to unwind before Dr. Hubbard started.

“Hank, when the guys brought me home today, after lunch, we were talking.  Michael made it known that he really wanted to come here and go to school to get a new start.  I called Micael’s father and he said that he would be glad to have Michael out of his hair.  He didn’t have time to talk when I called him.”

I threw out my hands, “Guys, I can’t be gone from the area right now with school  How are we going to get Michael to Chicago and make sure he returns without backsliding.”

Randy grinned, “Never mind, Henry.  We’ve worked out the details of how we’re going to do it.  The plumbing jobs that we have on the books between now and next Monday are mostly small and Jake can handle them by himself.  It seems the people didn’t want the bigger jobs started until after their children were out of the house next week for school.”

“Okay, so you’re going to be the driver but who's going to go with you to make sure that Michael doesn’t back out, once he gets to Chicago?

 

Dr. Hubbard answered, “Hank, I can go, if we go tomorrow and Thursday.  My last big presenation in the area is on Friday.  It will make it a fast trip.  We decided to take Walt with us.  We had thought about taking Witt, but he reminded us that would leave no drivers here to take care of the other four boys’ needs.”

“I have no problem with your plan.  I’ll leave the arrangements up to you all, since I’m already head over heels involved with things for school.”    

To be continued...     

Editor's Notes:

It does seem that Micheal is having that attitude adjustment that I mentioned earlier.  Perhaps Michael's biggest problem might have been that he had managed to get involved with what you might call the wrong crowd, and he found himself sort of trapped by circumstances. Let's hope that he can keep his mind focused on his new situation and not get discouraged, and will therefore take a greater interest in his education and all that entails.  Deep down he is a good person.  He had just lost the proper path.

Things also seem to be going pretty smoothly at school, as well.

I can hardly wait for the next chapter, to see what happens next. 

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 08/05/11