1 It was the last day of school; the kids were gone, the books had been collected, and Principal Drake was handing out final paychecks. This was normally a relaxed meeting at which teachers wearing casual clothes smiled and wished each other well for the summer. But no one was smiling today, because a story in the local newspaper had exploded like a crack of thunder.

2

The headline read, “Board of Education Plans New Middle School,” and the staff members of East Orange Elementary were rattled.

3

Principal Tom Drake opined, “I am concerned about a situation in which a newspaper already knows school district information that comes as a surprise to me and my teachers.” He continued, “But of far greater concern is what this means for us, for our colleagues at West Orange, and students and parents throughout the district.”

4

Coach Melinda Gardner whispered to her friend, Mr. Dale French, “Old Tom is just worried the Board might ask him to retire and make someone else principal of the new campus.”

5

Mr. French whispered back, “Melinda, you be nice now,” but he couldn’t help smiling at his friend’s remark.

6

As the meeting went on, many teachers worried out loud about what might happen if grades 6-8 from East and 6-8 from West consolidated.

7

Ever since the two elementary schools had opened, decades ago, the district had proudly maintained a unique system. While surrounding districts had built new middle schools, Orange kept two elementary buildings—East and West—with K-8 graders in each.

8

Now, according to the paper, the results of the 2010 census were in. They suggested population growth would soon fill both elementary schools with K-5 students only. Apparently, the Board thought the time was ripe to build one new middle school for 6-8 graders.

9

“Will one campus need two middle school science labs?” Dr. Fred Davis, the science department head, asked the group in his usual shy, quiet voice.

10

“Since there is only one middle school library, is the Board going to honor seniority?” Mrs. Betty Green asked brashly. “Or the Board could just keep whichever librarian has the coolest photos on her social media site,” she added sarcastically.

11

“Mrs. Green is worried her lack of computer skills might finally hurt her,” Coach Gardner whispered to Mr. French again.

12

“Coach Gardner, please!” Principal Drake scolded his gym teacher for whispering. “You would not tolerate it if your students were rude. This turn of events has caused real alarm so let’s be sensitive to each other’s concerns.

13

“I apologize for both of us, Tom,” Mr. French offered. “But let’s not get carried away and spoil our summers over this. We don’t know if this proposed new campus will actually be built. The census projections could be wrong. Even if they are right, the cost of raising taxes to pay for a new school might not go over well with voters.”

14

Mr. French continued, “I plan to enjoy my summer and expect another great year. Chances are we’ll all have jobs because several teachers retire every year and the Board moves us around to fill the vacancies. Some of us may have new assignments, but we’ll all land somewhere.”

15

All around the room, there were nods of agreement. The atmosphere of gloom gave way to the usual feelings of accomplishment and relief at the end of school.

16

Mr. French offered one more uplifting thought. “Each spring we graduate our eighth graders and send them on to Central High. If they can adjust to a new building, I think we can too.”

17

With that, the teachers adjourned and summer vacation began.

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