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“I’m surprised, Martha.” Mrs. Simmons turned her full attention to Mrs. Steen. “You typically prefer to do things old school, as the kids like to say.”
Mrs. Steen nodded. “This is a new generation and they respond to different methods. I think we shoot ourselves in the foot if we don’t change with the times and update what’s not working.”
Ron couldn’t agree with her more. Of course, he didn’t tell her that. He’d let the staff argue it out knowing Mrs. Steen usually got her way in the end.
The small group continued the debate as Ron looked down at Thrive’s pitch packet. The sample questions and language didn’t have Kylee’s name on them, but he knew it was her handiwork. The questions were formed in common sense language, not confusing verbiage that could be interpreted in different ways. That was
his Kylee.
His Kylee. Man, did he like the sound of that.
“Principal Kidd? Ron?”
Ron looked up. All eyes were on him. Brows were raised and pencils twiddling as though they’d been waiting to get his attention for a few minutes now.
“The room is divided,” said Mrs. Steen. “Where are you leaning? With Here 2 Learn or Thrive Learning Systems?”
Ron pursed his lips and drew his brows in as though he were thinking hard on this big decision. It was a big decision. He’d just already made up his mind.
“I think it’s time for a change,” said Ron.
“He’s going with Thrive,” said Mrs. Steen, a rare look of approval on her stern face.
“Of course, he is,” said Mrs. Simmons. “He’s dating one of the company’s personnel who also happens to be a student’s mother.”
The teachers had been gathering their items to leave believing a decision had been made which rendered their services no longer necessary. Now pencils clattered down to the table. Papers stopped shuffling. All eyes, once again, turned to him.
Ron cleared his throat and stood. If he were going to make a stand, he was going to physically stand in his truth. “I’m going with Thrive because, as pointed out by at least half of you, Here 2 Learn has made mistakes that have cost this school and our students in the past. We all know the stakes of these standardized tests. It’s a high price, not only for the students but our job security as well. I’ve seen in their pitch alone that Thrive has clearly demonstrated that they are aware and have protocols to address those issues. The lead preparer also happens to be a mother of a student and a Barton alumna.”
“So is Iman Hilson who works at Here 2 Learn,” said Mr. Stevens.
“True,” said Ron. “But like I said, that company hasn’t addressed the mistakes of the past. We can’t afford to have them repeated yet again. And yes, I’m dating Kylee Bauer.”
A collective murmur went around the room. In a group of adults, Ron felt like he was back in grade school at the response.
“I’ve known her all my life,” he continued. “Some of you have too and you know she is thorough and detail oriented and does phenomenal work.”
“Oh, Kylee Bauer?” said Mr. Stevens. “The daughter of old Prince Eddie, god rest his soul.”
A number of the teachers frowned. They were new to the old neighborhood and didn’t realize that there was royalty in their midst. The Bauers had never done anything to draw attention to themselves. Other than Mr. and Mrs. Bauer’s scandalous marriage.
Though Ron had never seen anything scandalous about Mrs. Bauer. She had seemed to him like most of the other moms in the neighborhood, baking cookies, growing flowers, and doting on her daughter. He knew what the rumors were, that she had had an affair with Prince Edvard while she was still married. But Kylee had told Ron the truth.
Marilee had been separated from her abusive ex for two years before she’d met Eddie. The two had fallen madly in love. When Eddie’s parents made him choose between a life as a third son who had little to no duties, and a life with Marilee, there had been no contest.
The two had come to start a life in Adalia, and left all scandal behind. Or so they thought.
“Yes, I remember little princess Kylee,” Mr. Stevens continued. “She ran off with the biker kid, what was his name?”
Of course that scandal would rear its ugly head now. For months all anyone in Adalia could talk about was how the class valedictorian ran off with the town n’er do well. But like her parents’ scandal, that was in the past.
“She’s divorced now,” said Ron.
“She just moved back into her parents’ home,” said Mr. Stevens. “I saw Jason Romano’s bike parked out front of the house this morning when I was coming in from getting the newspaper.”
Ron’s world stopped. The eyes were back on him. He no longer felt tall in his big stand. His legs gave out. And he sat down.
Chapter Seventeen
