Wisps of Wisdom Read online

  "You're our professional leader, Karla," he said in his slow voice. "You were selected as our principal for as well as your other abilities, your initiative and empathy with our teachers and students. If you want to make changes such as these, just provide us with your recommendations." He glanced around the table. "Do you all agree?"

  Skylar gave her a grin but everyone else just nodded and that was it as they moved onto the next main topic. This was a request from the Ministry of Education to consider reducing their zone size due to overcrowding, with a predicted roll increase of over two hundred within three years.

  Skylar came across to her during the supper after the formal meeting was over. "So you mean I'll be able to wear a summer frock instead of a business suit, if I wished?"

  "Yes, I'll bring it in as soon as possible. Even in March, it's far too hot for suits."

  "And later female staff can wear trouser suits if they wish?"

  "Why not? We still need a code for we can't have unshaven men wandering around bare feet with unbuttoned shirts and hairy chests can we?" She also mentioned Ryan's comment about the women's tops.

  Skylar laughed. "This will be popular with the staff. Old Owen Fessey was more concerned about looking as snobby as the local private schools than being practical."

  "So if the parents don't like us, they can pay twenty thousand a year for private education," Karla replied. "We're going to be overcrowded anyway. You heard that request to reduce our zone size."

  "I also like your idea of more co-operation between syndicates. Michael White is always bragging about how much better his syndicate is at practically everything." Skylar pouted. "Mind you he seems to have calmed down a little this year."

  "We had words," Karla replied.

  Skylar smiled. "We all know about you stopping him from selecting the best sports kids for his syndicate. Even those in Petrel Syndicate reckon it has improved everything.

  Jon came up and Skylar drifted away. "I'm thinking that we should push for a new classroom block rather than contracting our zone boundaries. Perhaps you could think about the idea before our next meeting." He sipped his coffee. "And thank you for everything you're doing here at Joseph Ward. You have even exceeded our expectations."

  "Thank you," Karla replied and found her cheeks warm in a flush. "It works both ways, too. This board is one of the best I've worked with."

  Jon gave a slight smile. "Give my regards to Ryan and I hope your little girl is getting over her bout of flu. Oh yes, that dress code; I always thought it was too restrictive but it was what your predecessor wanted. Have a good evening."

  Karla grinned and wondered why she had been so apprehensive about the meeting. In many ways large schools were easier to run than tiny ones.

  *

  The relaxed dress code for staff was an instant success with nearly every staff member switching to more casual clothes. Women mainly wore summer dresses while the men except for the woodwork teacher who remained in his usual bodysuit that mechanics wear and Michael White, made the switched to shorts and sandals. Comments that filtered back to Karla were positive as they were for another new rule about mobile phones she had brought in.

  The old rule of a total ban was obsolete and largely ignored with half the students having a mobile phone hidden in a pocket or bag. The new rule permitted their use by students with several codes of behaviour such as no video or photograph uploads or downloads, no cyber bullying and no use without the teacher's permission in classroom time and a silent mode had to be switched on inside school buildings. At a school assembly, Karla stressed that the new code was for a trial period only and if students abused their new right, it would be withdrawn and a total ban reinstated. The new rules worked well with the threat of going back to a total ban, an incentive for the students to obey the new procedures.

  *

  The free breakfasts for needy students was up and running by April with all the participants reaching agreement in an amazingly short time. Joseph Ward Junior High Board of Trustees' profit in the cafeteria contract paid forty percent of the costs, a similar amount came as a discount agreed to by Farm Life & Soul and the final twenty percent came from the local Lions Club who never hesitated in providing financial help. Many members, Karla found out actually had children attending Joseph Ward Junior High so the idea of helping a local school was well received.

  Thirty-seven of the original forty-eight students selected for the sponsored breakfasts had their identity cards programmed to have them paid for. There were restrictions on the food and drink they could buy so it wasn't wasted on junk food. Of the eleven students who didn't join the offer, all but two came from parents who said they would provide their children with breakfast and two just ignored all approaches made to them. Karla felt for the children involved but it was Ryan who said that she could no more.

  Probably the most satisfying outcome was when a thin woman about her own age knocked on her office door one morning just after classes commenced. This was a little unusual for Vivian or one of the office assistants always intercepted anyone walking up the stairs to the mezzanine floor leading to her office and told an appointment was necessary to see the principal.

  Karla glanced up at the somewhat nervous woman. "Can I help you?" she asked.

  "You're Mrs Spicer, our new principal?"

  "Yes."

  "I just came to thank you for your help. Trevor thinks you are just so cool."

  Karla smiled, stood and held out her hand to the visitor "You're Mrs Williams, Trevor's mother?"

  "Yes, I am Layla Williams."

  "And I'm Karla."

  "It's been so hard," Layla said. "I try but get no support from Trevor's father. Actually, there's a restraining order out against him. I do leave food for Trevor and his older sister but... oh I don't know, I think she eats it all. I don't normally accept charity but Mrs Moffet explained everything to me. I hear there are others who also get help."

  "A few," Karla said. "As I said in that special newsletter you received, the Board of Trustees, the cafeteria contractors and the Lion's Club are all helping. Who the participating students are is entirely confidential and overall, the cost is quite minimal."

  "But appreciated," Layla replied. "Trevor doesn't know I'm here so can we keep it that way, please?"

  "Of course," Karla replied. "Boys have their pride, don't they?"

  Layla smiled. "They do." She chatted for moment and left.

  Seconds later Vivian arrived. "I saw her come in but decided not to intercept her. Hope you didn't mind."

  "Not at all," Karla replied. "It's nice when our efforts are appreciated."

  *

  The biggest sporting event in April for the school was the cross-country. For this, the students were divided into age and gender races with the eleven and twelve-year-olds running three kilometres through a track that left the school playing fields and wandered up through a bush reserve behind the school, followed a stream for a short distance before looping back through suburban streets to the school. The thirteen years or older students ran a longer route in the reserve to add an extra kilometre to the distance. Each syndicate had held their own races earlier and the fastest runners went on to these inter-syndicate finals.

  The grounds had a carnival atmosphere with each syndicate having their own tents and flying their colours with flags and balloons, Green for Gannet, Red for Petrel, Blue for Tern and Orange for Shearwater. As well, the runners all had t-shirts of their syndicate's colour and with the yellow tops for the school uniform, there was a rainbow of colours across the grounds. There were other tents for officials, first aid and several commercial tents including a local car dealer who sponsored the event. With the whole school watching as well as hundreds of parents and visitors, there were people everywhere.

  Karla was at the finishing line to greet all those coming in. The eleven-year-old girls race was first and muddy tired girls came in accompanied by clapping, screams and shouts from spectators. Every girl was wet and splattered
in mud from the muddy track and a stream crossing. After a week of wet weather this was not unexpected and added to the charm of the event. Afterwards, the girls joined their friends or parents to watch the other races or went into the school gymnasium to have showers. The younger boys' race was next and Karla watched as they disappeared from sight out the far end of the grounds.

  "Mrs Spicer," said a voice behind her. She spun around and noticed the boy standing behind her. It was Trevor Williams who like the other students in Petrel syndicate had a bright red rosette pinned to his uniform to show he was in that syndicate.

  "Oh hello. Trevor," she said. "Are you enjoying the races?"

  "Yeah, I was too slow to reach the finals." He hesitated and gazed at the ground. "I shouldn't be grassing but..."

  Karla frowned. "What is it Trevor?"

  "It's the final race, the senior boys' one."

  "What about it?"

  "You know Adrian from Shearwater who is expected to win?"

  Karla nodded. Adrian Malley was one of the best long distant runners in the school and was expected to win the senior event with only one other boy, Isaac Heffernan from Petrel considered to have a chance of beating him. The pair were competitive and apparently had been for years.

  "So what are you wanting to say, Trevor?"

  "It's all hush hush but I overheard a plan the Petrel guys have to make sure that Isaac wins." He gulped and looked around as if he was frightened that somebody could be watching. "It doesn't matter. I just thought you wouldn't think it was fair even though Mr White knows what's going to happen."

  Karla frowned. Her deputy principal was almost a sports fanatic and could, in her opinion, be devious at times. "Go on," she almost hissed. "If someone is going to cheat, it is only fair to everyone that I know about it."

  "They have planned to have their six or eight fastest runners surround Adrian and block him to give Isaac a free run. They'll be discrete at the beginning of the race but will close in on him in that extended section of the course, you know that extra kilometre added for the seniors. Some may even want to try to push him off the track where it crosses the second stream."

  Karla knew the area and had almost had the course changed as it appeared to be quite dangerous, especially after heavy rain. As this extra part was only for the older age groups, she had, against her better judgement been persuaded to leave the course as it had been for years. There was no forecast for rain that day so the all clear had been given to use this original route.

  "You were right in telling me, Trevor. It is not grassing when ganging up is considered for a team wanting to win. I'll look into it."

  Trevor nodded and melted into the crowd. Karla called her husband Ryan on her mobile phone. "Are you around?" she asked.

  "Yeah. I'm over near the refreshment tent. Can't get near it for the crowd. Why?"

  Karla repeated what Trevor had told her and added. "I don't want my staff to be involved but I want to go up that back track to see what happens. Could you watch the beginning of the race and see if there are early signs of Petrel guys, they're in the red tops, ganging up on Adrian. He'll be wearing orange."

  "Sure, and if it looks as if that is happening?"

  "Just call me."

  "Will do. Have fun!"

  *

  Karla already wore gumboots, the name used in New Zealand for rain boots or the British wellies, so didn't mind the slushy conditions in the reserve. She took a circular route to the track so she would avoid the senior girls' race that would be coming through before the boys. There were a few marshals stationed at various points along the route to prevent runners from being lost and orange cones and large yellow arrows and signs showed where the longer course turned into a different track.

  She stepped back when she heard a group of runners approaching. They were the senior girls who pounded by with the five fastest runners well clear of the main bunch. Behind them, looking more exhausted than the girls ahead were the slower runners and finally a couple who had given up running and just walked along chatting to each other.

  She stepped out from behind a bush, heard the pair gasp and they began running again. Karla glanced at her watch. It would be about twenty minutes before the boys would be here in their race. She walked on and came to the section where the track wound down to the stream. The water wasn't deep and splashed around rocks that could be used as stepping stones before the track zigzagged up a steep slope on the opposite side. This would be the spot Trevor mentioned if they contemplated giving Adrian a push.

  Her mobile rang.

  "Hi Dear," Ryan said. "I'm sitting in our car. Oh they were so discrete but there are definitely a group of those red topped guys bunched up around the lad in orange. There are also three red T-shirt kids out the front. This whole group is already way out in front of the main bunch. Can't see them all keeping up the pace. I think it is all planned like a chess movement. I reckon that a couple of the front runners will drop back to replace those who are around Adrian at the moment."

  "Any other syndicates involved?"

  "Not really. There are a couple of orange runners and the other colours back a little. I think they're surprised by the tactics. Shall I take the car up the road in the reserve and check them out?"

  "Good idea. Once they're away from the crowd they will probably stop being discrete and tighten their ring around him."

  A few moments later Ryan called again. "Yeah, it's happening. Poor Adrain's being elbowed and one red topped guy, must be Isaac is getting ahead. Oh! Oh! "

  "What?" Karla almost shouted.

  "The group around Adrian is actually slowing down and stopping him from passing. At this rate there will be no way he can catch Isaac who is increasing his lead."

  "Right!" Karla retorted. She clicked off and called the marshal at the corner of the gateway back into the school grounds. "Karla here. Will you get a rope across the track and flag down any runners. There will probably only be Isaac Heffernan from Petrel. He'll be there soon. The race has been aborted and will need to be rerun."

  The teacher there sounded surprised but as Karla was one of the referees as well as being principal, she didn't query the request.

  Now all Karla had to do was wait!

  She heard the front runner before he appeared but by then Karla had slipped back so she was hidden in the foliage. It was Isaac who was running strongly and didn't even have much mud splashed over himself. After he thundered by and Karla stepped out onto the track, just as the main bunch of red runners surrounding an orange runner appeared.

  She stood in the middle of the track just before where it wound down to the stream and held up her hand like a traffic officer directing traffic. The whole group just about tumbled over each other as they stopped.

  "So it is true," Karla said in an icy voice as she stared at the boys all puffing and looking guilty. "You have purposely blocked Adrian so Isaac will win the race!"

  "But..." one boy stuttered but stopped mid-sentence when Karla glowered at him.

  "Is that true, Adrian?" she asked the boy in orange.

  He pouted. "It's their tactics, I guess, Mrs Spicer, " he muttered. "They did manage to slow me down."

  Karla glared around at the Petrel boys and also at more runners who arrived. "This race has been aborted. I am ashamed of your tactics I shall be considering whether all you Petrel boys will be be disqualified from the race when it is rerun. You will all turn around, walk back and tell the other runners that this race is over."

  "Yes, Mrs Spicer," the gathering of runners whispered.

  They stared at each other or at the ground before they turned and began the long walk back to the school.

  After they had gone Karla called several officials to tell them of her decision and finally called Ryan. "Can you come and get me? There's a set of steps near here up to the road you're on."

  "Right," Ryan replied and a moment later she was sitting in their car, still angry at all the events.

  "Cool it," Ryan said. "Go b
ack, rerun the race but don't show your anger."

  "When?" Karla snapped. "Tomorrow?"

  "No," Ryan suggested. "In forty minutes or so. Have a few of those fun races you were going to have at the end of the main contest for the rest of the school first, then the race."

  "And the boys who ganged up on Adrian? Should I disqualify them? They damn well deserve it?"

  "Do they?" Ryan glanced across at her. "If the idea was supported by Michael White or even if he turned a blind eye to it, isn't he the one you should reprimand, not the boys."

  Karla turned to him and sighed. "Oh Ryan, you're right, of course. Sometimes I wish we were back at our little country school with our farm and a bunch of kids to look after."

  "We had problems there, too. This one is really quite minor compared with everything else that has happened to us. So cheer up and be the respected and neutral principal everyone looks up to."

  He grinned as he turned in the school car park, squeezed her leg and smiled. "Remember, be fair to everyone."

  Karla nodded and walked over to the tents where the senior boys were beginning to arrive back. They gathered at the start line and waited with glum expressions on their faces. Karla asked one of the teachers for the loud hailer she was carrying and stood before the crowd. The silence was deafening as she coughed to attract attention.

  "The senior boys race will need to be rerun," she said. "However, to be fair to the boys we will wait forty minutes before it is started. Meanwhile, the fun races we were going to held at this time will be continued. I apologize to students, parents and friends for this and hope you enjoy the rest of your afternoon here. Could the staff and volunteers running the fun races please start them as soon as possible. I'll hand you over to our DP, Sandra Bragman who is running these events."