[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Gopherville: Chapter Four

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Gopherville: Chapter Four
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208671051.shtml


   Previously: [1]1 [2]2 [3]3
   "We'll talk further at next month's meeting. Thanks, Marge." Will
   Kennicott, Superintendent of the Gopherville schools hung up the
   phone. Marjorie Brown had heard about Gopherville dropping out of the
   Greater Minnesota School District Association and wondered if her
   group was next. "Marge" headed the School Administrators of Minnesota,
   a professional organization for school principals, superintendents and
   those in-between. Unlike the GMSDA, this group included those employed
   by charter and private schools.
   His secretary, Juanita Haydock knocked and entered. Kennicott had a
   distant look on his face. "You gave her the good news, right?"
   "Oh, sure," said Kennicott, now smiling a little. "I was just thinking
   this will really confuse some people."
   "Like why Marge is in and Jim is out?"
   "Uh huh. In fact, that's exactly how they're going to look at it.
   Personally. Marge and Jim, not their organizations."
   "I wouldn't know. Anyway, Paul Riesling is here."
   "Give me a minute. No, wait, I'll come out with you." Kennicott
   followed Haydock to her desk, walked past and extended his hand to his
   10:30 am appointment.
   "Superintendent," began Paul Riesling.
   "Call me Will. Juanita, will you show him in? I'll be back in a
   minute."
   Riesling had grown up in Gopherville, class of 1966. After six years
   in the Army including two on the front lines in Vietnam, he had gone
   to Moorhead to earn his B.A. in Accounting. He settled in the Twin
   Cities, passed the CPA exam, and after 14 years working for three
   different firms, opened his own practice in the small suburb of
   Hopkins. He did well, and later expanded to offer financial planning
   and brokerage services. At its peak, he employed 7 people, retiring in
   1999, selling the company. Paul had done well for himself personally
   as well by following his own firm's advice, including some great calls
   in the 1990's bull market. He had arrived. He had also eschewed
   marriage and family in getting there. Suddenly, he saw himself as
   unimportant. 'Who will remember me?' he wondered, suddenly seeing life
   very differently.
   Rather than make his first hire his partner as planned for 2000, he
   sold it to him outright for a small down payment and a 10 year
   promissory note. It was a bargain, almost charity, but this way, Paul
   knew the business would have little trouble going forward without him.
   Riesling soon found outright retirement a bore. He dabbled and
   volunteered in various civic organizations, capped by being named
   Grand Marshal of the 2004 Raspberry Festival. But it wasn't what he
   wanted. He suddenly pulled up and moved back to Gopherville. Shortly
   thereafter, he bought out the budding accounting practice of Fran
   Dodsworth. As part of the deal, Fran stayed on part time by working
   nearly full time just during tax season. She also filled in to cover
   for Paul during his vacations and extended absences. For Paul really
   didn't want to be retired. He just wanted a simpler, smaller
   enterprise.
   He also wanted to contribute to the community, not so much as a
   volunteer but as an actual mover and shaker. Gopherville filled this
   need too, by right of history and because he was now a
   multi-millionaire big frog in his hometown small pond. He did a number
   of projects, both by direct contribution and by leading fund-raisers.
   Some had suggested he run for office, but he had sense enough to say
   no.
   "Thanks for waiting, Paul. I had to return that all that coffee I
   rented."
   "Tough morning?"
   "Yes and no. But what can I do for you?"
   "I came to see if I can help you." Will Kennicott said nothing, but
   raised an eyebrow to ask how. "I read the paper. I hear people talk.
   The paper says money is tight here in district 352. The folks say
   you're a good man, that you're doing a good job, and that you deserve
   better. So, I came to see if I can help."
   "That's very kind of you - and of those folks you mentioned," said
   Kennicott. "What did you have in mind?"
   "That depends. I have a couple of questions first. Just so you know, I
   spent some time with Martin Arrowsmith Tuesday. We went over the
   budgets, in some detail, man to man in the CPA sense you might say. We
   were just about done when the call came about his mother."
   "Yes, most unexpected. She was only 68. In fact, shouldn't we wait
   until he returns on Monday? You said you hadn't quite finished."
   "No, I've seen enough numbers, I think. How about you?"
   "I .. sorry?"
   "Have you seen enough numbers?"
   "I'm not sure I follow."
   "Me, I'm an accountant. I see numbers every day. Maybe I even like it.
   But I don't think you're that kind of Joe."
   "Really." Kennicott crossed his arms, not sure if he wanted this
   conversation to continue. "What kind of - Joe? - do you think I am?"
   Riesling leaned back and smiled. "I sound like my old man, talking
   about Joes. Will, like I said, I read the papers. I talk to people.
   And while he did his professional best, I was able to glean a couple
   more points from Martin, too."
   "And?" said Kennicott, coolly.
   "You want it straight?" Kennicott nodded. "Will, I'm not sure this job
   is right for you. Oh, sure, you can do it. You've been doing it.
   You've been doing it well. And you're qualified as hell. But now you
   don't like it, or you think you don't, or at least others think you
   don't."
   "Keep going, doctor."
   "This business about making Martin report directly to the Board. What
   problem will this solve?"
   "Look, Mr. Riesling. Speaking for the District, I appreciate whatever
   it is you're trying to do. I really do. But speaking for myself, maybe
   you had better just come to the point."
   "Very well. Point one. Drop this nonsense about splitting the job, to
   insulate you from having to worry about the money. That was Martin's
   idea. He's a splendid man, a real friend I suspect, but turn him down
   and tell the Board. You're a team, you work well together. Don't mess
   it up." He paused for reaction, got none.
   "Point two. Do your job. Do all of it, numbers, money, and all. Which
   is to say, do what you've been doing all along. Sure, the town is
   changing. Education isn't a growth industry anymore. But our kids
   still need an education. In fact, they need a better education than we
   got. You might have to work a little harder, but I have every
   confidence in you. So does the town. And so does Martin. He's got more
   to give if you'll let him."
   "And just how would you know that?"
   "Not from Martin himself, if that's what you mean. But I have my
   sources, sources who came to me as a matter of fact. May I continue?"
   Kennicott nodded nervously.

References

   1. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207374623.shtml
   2. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1207774475.shtml
   3. http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1208057658.shtml