Wisps of Snow

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1Karla, the principal of Tui Park Primary School in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, pushed a box of tissues across her desk towards Lexi McKenzie, the teacher sitting opposite her. Tears had formed in the young woman's eyes.

"I never thought I'd get the position here," Lexi whispered. "I've tried but nothing I do seems right and now all this."

She slapped a document on the desk that was a scathing review of her term's teaching and class progress during the first term. "As you know I have three problem boys in my room as well as Gwen."

Karla nodded. Gwen was a mainstreamed pupil with learning difficulties.

Lexi was in Associate Principal Yolanda Pearson's Year 3 and 4 syndicate. Both were conscientious teachers but Karla could see both sides of the present conflict. Both teachers were new to the school and trying to establish themselves, Yolanda came from a similar position at a rural school but now had five classrooms to manage in the Year 3 and 4 syndicate whereas, at her previous school there were only two. She tried hard but hadn't really learned that leading was more than just feeding work into her teachers and expecting them to follow her directions.

In contrast, Lexi had returned home to New Zealand after spending three years teaching in London, England. She was experienced and capable.

Perhaps that was where the conflict was; the two women of a similar age but with their different personalities couldn't even agree to disagree over policies, Lexi felt she was being bossed around while Yolanda couldn't understand why her authority was, in her opinion, ignored.

Karla suppressed a grin. If Val, the retired assistant principal who had run the junior school like a military camp was still here, Lexi would have had something to complain about. Mind you, she sympathised with her, too. Lexi reminded her of her own situation five years earlier when she was senior teacher at Tui Park and had had ongoing battles with Val.

Karla had moved on to become a country school principal but had returned as principal last year. It was now nearly the end of the term, everyone was tired and small disagreements were often swollen out of proportion. Two weeks of stormy weather hadn't helped.

Tui Park was built on a hillside in the hilly capital with the quite small playgrounds made even smaller by the addition of two new classrooms being added to the junior block. This was across the top playground from the main block that consisted of two levels of classrooms and the administration area. The five middle syndicate classrooms above them opened out to the top playground with external and internal steps leading down to the lower lever where five more classrooms of the senior syndicate were situated on each side of the administrative area.

In wet weather, the corridors in the main block and the interior stairs were the problem. Water seemed to be everywhere over the floor and the hooks outside the classrooms were overflowing with bags, coats, footwear and lunches. There had been a problem with lunches and food going missing in the middle school. Several parents had complained and Yolanda's efforts to catch those responsible had not worked.

Rightly or wrongly, she had blamed the boys in Lexi's class. Unfortunately, Lexi had defended her own pupils and a fill blown argument had developed in the staffroom a week earlier. This had escalated and was perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back, if that cliché could be used.

"Yolanda has also approached me," Karla said after she perused the report. "She is certainly blunt in her statement here but weren't some of the comments she made exactly the same as in last year's review?"

"Of course they were," Lexi retorted, glanced at Karla and sniffed back more tears. "Sorry Karla but I'm not a junior newly graduated teacher. She gave me no credit for what I attempted to do over the last two months. I'd like to see her do better with Gwen being teased by the boys and reacting as she does." She blew her nose into a tissue. "In London I taught thirty or more real tough kids, half of whom could barely speak English. I was shown the classroom and just left alone to sink or swim. I managed and came back to this school in an affluent suburb only to have a bossy bit riding me every day over stupid little things."

"Like the stolen lunches?"

"That's just one thing. Why does she have to pick on me all the time?"

Karla nodded. The other teachers in the syndicate were all older women who had been at the school for years. They were all pleasant women, taught quite well but were not interested in becoming more than classroom teachers. In contrast to Lexi, they rarely queried changes, did their job and had family and other interests outside of the school environment to complete their lives.

Ryan her husband, called Yolanda an old maid before her time and classified Lexi as a stubborn redheaded bombshell. His opinion was probably a bit too blunt but she realised that he wasn't too far off the mark.

"I've had enough," Lexi retorted without waiting for her last question to be answered. She reached a pocket of her jeans and produced an envelope. "My resignation, Mrs Spicer. If I'm such a terrible teacher, you'll be glad to get rid of me."

As Karla opened the envelope and withdrew the sheet inside, she thought back to Ryan's comment only the night before. He had predicted that this would happen but had added that it should be Yolanda who should be reprimanded, not Lexi. Again, his comments were close to her own thoughts.

She folded the sheet, inserted it back in the envelope and slipped it back across to Lexi.

"As principal of Tui Park School I have the ultimate responsibility for the pupils and teachers at this school. In that capacity I cannot accept your resignation, Lexi," she said.

"You can't stop me…"

"No, I can't but I would like you to listen to my suggestions, go away and think about everything over the weekend and if on Monday you still wish to resign, I shall pass your letter onto the Board of Trustees."

"And what are they?" Lexi whispered. She wiped her cheeks and with her lips pursed in a pout, stared out the window to avoid any eye contact.

"You know that the two new classrooms will be ready for use soon and we've already appointed a extra teacher who will be joining us next term?"

Lexi nodded.

"Because the number of new entrants arriving before the end of the year, I need to make a shuffle right throughout the junior and middle school. I've decided to bring forward a plan I've discussed with the board of trustees, that is to start a fourth syndicate at the Year 2 & 3 level. That includes your class, Lexi?"

"Go on!" A glimmer of interest showed in Lexi's eyes.

"I have also been keeping a firm eye on your class, Lexi. Perhaps, as Yolanda stated, you do have a streak of stubbiness" She held her hand up when Lexi opened her mouth to defend herself. "Your teaching methods are also more formal than Yolanda likes but you have those boys behaving and even Gwen's mother commented to me about how she enjoys being in your room. Oh yes, I also know your boys weren't responsible for the stolen lunches. Our new CTV we installed overlooking the internal stairs picked up two girls from the senior syndicate who sneaked up when they should have been doing morning tea duties. It took them about five minutes to grab a dozen lunches before leaving. Apparently, they've done it on three occasions."

"So you're offering to shift me out of Yolanda's syndicate?" Lexi's tone was neutral.

"I am."

"And this new teacher will be leading this new syndicate?"

"No, she is only a young teacher."

"Who then; Anne?" Anne was the oldest teacher on the staff and taught one of the Year 6 classes.

Karla glanced up and finally caught Lexi's eyes. "No. This year there will only be two classes in the syndicate. With our increasing roll and another new classroom added next year, it will increase to four at the beginning of next year with one junior syndicate Year 2 class joining it. The board of trustees agrees that I can make an internal promotion." She waited for her news to be reflected upon before adding. "I am offering you the senior teacher's position and you'll be answerable directly to me."

Lexi's expression showed surprise. "You're kidding me!"

"No."

"Oh hell and I thought..."

"Think about it over the weekend. Okay?"

Lexi broke into a grin. "And what does Yolanda think about all of this?"

"I've no idea. Only the board, myself and now you, know about our proposals. It is confidential so, in the meanwhile please keep it that way."

"And not even tell my partner?"

Karla smiled. "I'm sure Warren will be discrete."

Lexi stood up and swished back her hair. "I know now why you're one of the youngest principals in the city running one of the most sort-after schools. You aren't the blonde bimbo those guys over at the intermediate school call you down at the tavern. You know almost more about me than I know myself." She gulped. "I am stubborn and independent but will change, you know."

"As a senior teacher, you'll have to, Lexi." Karla glanced at the letter still at the edge of her desk. "Shall we put it through the paper shredder?"

Lexi nodded, stepped around, hugged Karla, turned and walked out of the office a much happier woman than she was a mere half an hour earlier.

*

Being Friday, Karla left school earlier than during the rest of the week but it was still after four thirty when she drove into the childcare centre to pick up Alexis, her two-year-old daughter. Ryan picked her up on the other four days but she enjoyed taking a chance to do it once a week.

Bubbles & Laughter was a small independent childcare place based in a converted home that took toddlers from six months through to five years of age when children began school. There were four qualified instructors and three levels. Alexis was in the toddlers' room having moved up from the infants' area a month earlier.

The little girl rushed up to her with a large piece of paper in her hand. "Mummy," she called out. "I drew a picture of Daddy and you."

Karla picked her up, gave her a cuddle and told her what a wonderful picture it was.

"I'm going to show Daddy," Alexis said as she scrambled into the support seat in the back of the car.

"That's a good idea. We'll pick him up in town on the way home."

Town was the northern suburb of Johnsonville just off the motorway. It had a mall, a street of shops and a couple of supermarkets as well as a swimming pool, library and most other facilities. To Karla, it was a better place to shop than in downtown Wellington with its notorious lack of parking and narrow streets.

Also it was where Ryan had his firm based. With money from the sale of much of his farm he had inherited, they had purchased a small commercial property on Johnsonville Road only a hundred metres along from one of the mall's entrances. The ground floor was rented out to a small but upmarket boutique store aimed at young mothers like herself while he operated Spider's Revenge, an electronic and website company that specialised in helping small business owners get established on the internet. He had graduated a year before and had decided to go out on his own rather than seeking work elsewhere.

Like Karla, he worked long hours but his income was probably less than half of hers. Karla grinned as she drove down the tiny alley behind the shop and parked in one of the two spaces they owned behind the building. Ryan certainly enjoyed his work but with them both working, it was probably the reason they had not had another child.

"Come on Sweetheart," she said as she lifted Alexia out of the car. "Got your picture to show Daddy?"

Alexia grinned and held it up. Ryan appeared, picked his daughter up and like Karla had done earlier, admired the circles and lines that constituted her drawing before turning to her.

"Heard you promoted Lexi and Yolanda's got the pip?"

"What?" Karla gasped. "It's meant to be confidential and I haven't even talked to Yolanda. How did you find out?"

Ryan chuckled. "Just a guess really but I'm spot on aren't I?"

"Could be. I suppose Yolanda will get the pip as you call it but that's her problem. Anyway, let's go over to the mall and have a coffee. It's been a long hard week."

"Aren't they all?" Ryan replied. "Mine has been too. One customer has pulled out but Victoria University wants help with their new network. Could be a two month contract."

"Ryan," Karl gasped. "That's wonderful. How'd you manage that?"

"Word of mouth, I guess. Just phoned and asked if I could help. Their own technicians seem to be getting nowhere."

Karla grinned at him. "But don't undercharge them will you?"

Ryan laughed. "Me! Would I do that?"

"You would," Karla retorted. "Sometimes I think you are too kind-hearted to be a businessman.

*

On Monday morning, when Karla told Yolanda about the latest changes the associate principal did not as Ryan predicted, take it personally except for one caustic comment about wondering how Lexi would cope if the new teacher decided to just do her own thing.

Karla glanced at her but ignored the comment before she added. "Have you any suggestions about the school organisation?"

"You're asking me?" Yolanda replied.

"Of course. You're the third in our hierarchy after Gillian and myself. The only difference will be that we will have two senior teachers instead of just Tiana."

Tiana was the senior teacher in charge of junior classes.

Yolanda nodded and made some good suggestions before finally adding. "I guess you'll tell everyone about the changes at this afternoon's staff meeting."

"Probably but it will depend on whether Lexi accepts the position."

"She will," Yolanda retorted. "I hope you'll keep an eye on her, though."

Karla was about to say she oversaw all the senior staff but decided to let it go and merely smiled slightly.

By nine fifteen, all the classes were in and most of the parents had left, that is except for the inevitable few who hung around the new entrant or Year 0 classes as they were called at this time of the year, seemly too afraid to let their children adapt to school life. Tiana Whiting was remarkably tolerant of them and had the skill to manoeuvre around the more clingy ones. Karla grinned for she would be less accommodating herself.

Usually she spent the next hour or so reading the incoming email messages and snail mail. She replied to urgent requests and placed less important documents in three priorities. Afterwards Saryia, the office manager as the clerical assistant was now named, would refile them or, if they had been ticked, followed up the items, be it an enrolment requests, invoices or Ministry of Education demands. She had hardly started when Saryia poked her head through the office door.

"A gentleman from the Ministry of Education has arrived, Karla," she said in a hushed voice. "Apologised for not contacting us beforehand but decided to speak to you in person rather than over the phone." She grinned. "Bit of a big wig, I think. Drives a government Mercedes and said he knew you,"

Karla grinned. Saryia was extremely efficient but liked to pass on all the school gossip unless told it was confidential. "I see. Did you get his name?"

"Yes. It's John Cosgrove. Shall I tell him you're too busy and he can make an appointment for later this morning? Remember you have to…" She rambled on about everything Karla had planned to do that morning.

Karla frowned. She did know John reasonably well. He was a Ministry of Education trouble-shooter who had responsibility for front line school problems from civil emergencies to dysfunctional schools or principals who couldn't cope to non-functioning boards of trustees. He had originally persuaded her to go to Top Plateau, a small rural school in the Wairarapa. Without his slight shove, she doubted if she would be in the position she now held.

"Well?" Saryia stared at her with those intense dark eyes.

"No. If he's here, it must be something important. Tell him to come in and divert any other calls or visitors until I tell you otherwise."

Saryia grinned. "That important, is it?"

"Yes," Karla replied in her formal principal's tone and watched as the petite Indian woman politely closed the door behind her.

*

John Cosgrove looked a little older but was as casual as ever as he wandered in, shook her hand and plonked himself in one of the armchairs without even being invited.

"Hi Karla, how's that old rogue of a husband of yours going? Heard he's making a mint selling porno sites on the internet?"

"Hardly." Karla couldn't help smiling. "I also heard you had half a dozen principals fired over the last year and disestablished a similar number of boards of trustees."

"One keeps busy." John glanced around the upmarket office. "You've done well for yourself. Tui Park is a different place from when you were originally here. Isn't your board going to make the school zone here smaller due to being over crowding?"

Karla nodded. This was confidential information that nobody outside the board was meant to know about. "It's mainly that new sub-division up the hill behind us. If they keep building up there we'll probably need a new school built within a few years."

John nodded. "And how's Glenda coping?"

Karla stared at him. This was not just an idle question. "She's a great deputy principal but why do you ask?"

"Could she step into your shoes for a year or so?"

"Okay John. Why are you here?"

John coughed, placed a satchel he had with him on her desk and brought out a ring binder with Confidential- Ministry of Education Eyes Only printed in red letters across the cover.

"We need you, Karla. If anybody can help, you can." He slid the file across to her. "It's all in here. Guess you saw that glaring statement on the cover."

"I did."

Karla opened the file and saw the usual Ministry of Education logo heading the title page. Beneath was a photo of a modern looking school administration block that could be any of a thousand other schools throughout New Zealand. Beneath was the heading Tuckett Area School Protocols.

"Doesn't an area school take both primary and secondary pupils from Year 1 to 13?"

"True. Heard of the place?"

Karla frowned. "Isn't Tuckett a small town in Central Otago somewhere?"

"Yeah. Pretty much in the middle of nowhere." He grinned. "They're pretty damned parochial down there."

Karla leaned back in her swivel chair. "So they are having problems, otherwise you wouldn't be here. Tell me what they are and why you think I might be even slightly interested in helping?"

"It's worth fifty grand extra salary, enough to get Ryan's business off the skids I reckon. You're about to be offered a position as Change Principal, one of the new jobs the government is establishing for senior principals to help troubled schools. If you accept, this will be your first assignment." He coughed. "I thought I'd come and twist your arm as I guessed you'd never be interested if you received the information out of the blue."

"You're right, John," Karla whispered. "But now you're here, let's hear what you have to say."

John sat up. "Any chance of a coffee?"

Karla laughed. "God, you're the limit." She did, though, press the intercom button. "Saryia, two coffees, milk sugar and a couple of those scones we were having for morning tea, please."

"Straight away, Mrs Spicer," came the reply. "Want the scones heated?"

"Of course, thank you."

John grinned, reached for the file and turned the page. "I visited Tuckett Area School last week. Perhaps we could start with my view of the situation down there?"

*