[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Gopherville: Chaper Chapter Three

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Gopherville: Chaper Chapter Three
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208057658.shtml


   Previously: [1]1 [2]2
   "Come in, Leora!" bubbled Fran Dodsworth, wife of insurance broker and
   school board member Sam Dodsworth. Every one always thought that the
   Dodsworths should live in a larger place given both Sam and Fran's
   successful practices, Fran being a Certified Public Accountant. So was
   Leora's husband Martin, the Finance Director of the Gopherville public
   schools. Fran had sold her practice three years ago to Paul Riesling,
   but she stayed on part time primarily during the tax season that had
   just ended.
   "¡Hola!" shouted Juanita Haydock from the kitchen. Fran walked Leora
   back to the four season porch. It was far from the largest home in
   town, but it might well be the best maintained and most superbly
   decorated. Plus, it was spotless. Fran had decided long ago that she'd
   rather have a smaller home that she could keep up with. Juanita
   followed them in with a tray of homemade conchas, small Mexican
   pastries which she placed next to the coffee service already on a side
   table. They all poured and took a concha or two and sat down to cover
   the first order of business: girl talk.
   This was their fifth meeting. The first was a chance meeting at the
   Coffee Club where Leora had indiscreetly repeated what her husband had
   said about school superintendent Will Kennicott. Martin had gone well
   out of his way to welcome Kennicott ten years ago and help him through
   his first few months learning about Gopherville itself, not just the
   schools. They had developed a close personal relationship in addition
   to a very productive working relationship. Martin Arrowsmith had no
   thought of being a superintendent. Will Kennicott, while duly diligent
   as required, was happy to delegate every financial matter possible to
   Arrowsmith and rely on his judgment.
   But financial matters were becoming ever more acute as the student
   enrollments continued to decline. Talk of merger with the slightly
   larger Zenith system 14 miles away was increasing, something Zenith
   openly welcomed on the presumption that their high school would be the
   survivor. It was larger, newer, and had a swimming pool thanks to
   Senator George Babbitt's ability to make that part of the 1996 bonding
   bill. The two schools had a decades-old sports rivalry, and
   Gopherville did not want to lose the final struggle to their long time
   foe. This was all wearing on Kennicott, whose first love was education
   itself, not the finances, and certainly not the politics. To avoid
   program cuts, he was willing to make all those phone calls. He had
   made it to St. Paul three times already this year to plead his case.
   He hated every minute of it but shared that only with his wife Carol
   and with Martin, thinking it would go no further.
   Leora Arrowsmith had assumed that Juanita was already well aware of
   this situation, given she was Kennicott's secretary. She wasn't, as
   Kennicott thought it was enough that he and Martin had to worry about
   it. But once Leora had mentioned it, any number of memos, meetings,
   and mannerisms came immediately to Haydock's mind to confirm it. It
   was all news to Fran, however, and she decided immediately that
   something had to be done, almost out of motherly sympathy. This
   inadvertent meeting became a formal arrangement, publicly a coffee
   klatch which it was, but held at Fran's house to assure the privacy
   needed to discuss Kennicott and all things Gopherville.
   The war came to them at the third meeting, shortly after Vice Chair
   Champ Perry's surprising outburst of February's meeting of the GMSDA -
   the Greater Minnesota School District Association. Juanita had brought
   the video tape of that school board meeting obtained from the local
   cable company that broadcasts many civic meetings as part of their
   franchise agreement. As surprising as Perry's assessment was, even
   more surprising to the group was how quickly Clerk Bea Sorenson had
   agreed and volunteered to look into the matter further, which Thompson
   and the rest of the Board agreed seemed appropriate. "One thing, Bea,"
   had warned Thompson. "I want this in the open, starting by talking to
   Jim Lefferts and his people directly. In fact, I'd like you to do that
   in person if possible. Without objection, the board will pay for your
   travel." This Sorenson had done, followed by the GMSDA visiting
   Gopherville.
   Here at meeting five, Fran put down her coffee and smiled. "Ladies,
   this Greater Minnesota thing got me thinking. But first." She motioned
   with her arms to bring down the imaginary cone of silence, which
   Juanita had first used at meeting two. "Juanita, what reaction did
   Will have?"
   "He's hard to read. You all know that. But my sense is he's a little
   torn. He doesn't mind one less set of meetings, that's certain. I
   think he'd agree they weren't of much value. But the staff, that's
   another question."
   "The staff? You mean the teachers?" asked Fran.
   "Everyone."
   "It's job security," said Leora, "simple as that. The association does
   lobbying. Lobbying brings in more money, or at least we think it does.
   More money means no layoffs."
   "We'll lose one or two because of enrollment," cautioned Juanita.
   "Maybe three this year in fact, as I don't think they'll replace Burch
   when he retires." She felt with her hands to make sure the cone of
   silence was still there.
   "Chatterton didn't put up much of a fuss, regardless." observed Leora.
   "Kind of odd, but maybe they have no more use for the SDA than Champ
   does. They have their own sources."
   "Why should they care? Her union has the largest delegation in St.
   Paul. They're being heard," said Fran.
   "So what's on your mind, Fran? Don't worry about Will," said Leora,
   leaning forward.
   "Either of you play poker? Not those machines, the real thing, with
   your own money?"
   Juanita smiled. "Sí, señora. ¿Qué están pensando?"

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207374623.shtml
   2. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207774475.shtml