The Academy Read Online Free PDF Page A

that’s a good sign.”
     
     
    People were starting to sit down as ten o’clock approached, and the two of them found seats near the front of the room. Diane squirmed uncomfortably in the plastic chair. “At least they could have found some adult chairs,” she complained.
     
     
    “There’ll be plenty of money for that if we become a charter school,” Linda said mock-helpfully.
     
     
    “I wish you would keep your snide comments to yourself,” Bobbi said from behind them. They both turned to look at the secretary, who was scowling as she made her way down the row toward the center of the room. “Your attitude is not appreciated.”
     
     
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” Diane said sweetly. “I was under the mistaken impression that we lived in a free country. Of course, I only teach English and not history, so I probably don’t know about such things.”
     
     
    Bobbi gave a disgusted snort and moved away.
     
     
    “You know what?” Diane said loudly to Linda. “I don’t feel very welcome here. I think I’m going home.”
     
     
    Bobbi hurried back. Her face was flushed, and there was anger in her eyes. “This is a mandatory meeting.”
     
     
    Diane stood, dropping her packet on the seat of her chair as she adjusted her purse. “Then I guess you’ll have to type up a memo chastising me and put it in my box.”
     
     
    “ Everyone has to vote today!”
     
     
    Diane said nothing but simply stared at her.
     
     
    “I’m sorry,” Bobbi said, her tone suddenly conciliatory.“It’s just that I’ve been putting in a lot of hours, doing a lot of work—”
     
     
    “Don’t worry about it,” Diane said coolly. She turned her back on the secretary, picked up her packet and sat down in her chair.
     
     
    Linda smiled as Bobbi walked away. “You’re cruel,” she said to her friend.
     
     
    Diane grinned. “Feels good to stay in practice.”
     
     
    The meeting began once everyone had arrived. Most of the teachers around her were eating doughnuts and fruit— Bribes, Linda thought—as Jody strode to the front of the room and picked up the microphone from its stand on the podium. The principal started by welcoming everyone back and giving those who hadn’t been there a thumbnail sketch of the school board meeting. She was pleasant and upbeat, friendly and approachable, the Jody Hawkes of the previous year rather than the hard, determined woman they’d encountered last week at the district offices.
     
     
    Linda glanced around her as the principal spoke. What is going on here? she wondered. They were teachers and support staff. How in the world had they gotten stuck in the middle of this campaign? How had the fate of the school ended up in their hands?
     
     
    Jody was beaming broadly. “I am going to enumerate some of the changes that will occur if we become a charter school. If you agree with them, let me know.”
     
     
    “Here it comes,” Diane whispered. The crowd, done for the most part with snacking, was now listening intently.
     
     
    “When we adopt our charter, we will become the masters of our own destiny, no longer dependent on the whims of the school board for educational necessities.”
     
     
    “Yes!” a handful of people yelled. Linda looked around. Bobbi, Janet, Art, Joseph . . .
     
     
    The charter committee.
     
     
    “We will have a democratically run workplace, with every faculty and staff member involved in the decisions affecting their jobs.”
     
     
    “Yes!”
     
     
    They’d planned this, she realized with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. They’d rehearsed what they were going to do.
     
     
    It was a good plan, too. It worked. As with any audience, participation begot participation, and they got others to join in with their vocal show of support. After each of the principal’s exhortations, more teachers jumped on the bandwagon, and the crowd’s response grew louder and more fervent with every round.
     
     
    “We will find ways to cut costs and use the savings to increase the pay of our