The next morning, Sherri met resistance, due to a lack of preparation, but she arranged a meeting with Lilly's caseworker, the school counselor and the principal, after school. Sherri also demanded access to all of Lilly's school records. She studied them the entire day and afternoon, stunned at what she saw. The girl was just as phenomenal as she'd advertised, maybe more so, despite the hardships she'd suffered. There were mentions of drug use, and believed sexual incidents, but there was no proof for anything. There were also no disciplinary issues.
When she returned, she took Lilly aside before the meeting. "Lilly, I want to get you into a more advanced regular class, if I can, but I want to make sure it's what you want. If you'd prefer to stay in the class you're in, I'll understand and will only aim for the special math session. This is your future, so you decide," she said.
"I'd like the advanced class," she said, with no hesitation.
"Are you sure? It's a lot more work, and they might try and use the stuff they claim you're doing to argue against it. If they do, you can't get mad. Let me handle it, and I promise I'll take care of it," Sherri said. Lilly thought for only a moment before nodding, her certainty clear in her expression. They went into the office, and to a conference room, where the other three waited.
"To begin, I want Priscilla put back in the advanced math session you intended for her at the start of the school year," she said, before anyone else spoke.
"I'm afraid we can't do that," the counselor replied.
"You can, and you will," Sherri told her.
"You can't come here and force her into a class she's ill equipped for," the principal said, backing the counselor.
"Surely you aren't this incompetent," Sherri said, but continued on before they could counter. Her initial rebuttal had brought about immediate and intense reactions, evidenced in their expressions.
"I've studied her academic record, going back to first grade. She's maintained almost straight A's every year, but one, and only had a single B then. What justification do you have to say she's ill equipped?" she asked, her tone accusatory.
"Mrs. Bazemore, I know you don't understand the education system, but she is a troubled child. Her behavior issues will impede her ability to keep up in a class with the demands required in such an advanced setting," the counselor said. She didn't realize who she was dealing with. The principal knew well who Sherri was, and groaned, despite her initial support of the counselor.
"First, I understand the education system well, having been a teacher, an assistant high school principal, a principal at every level of the school system and a school board member. Second, if she had a behavior issue, which I see no evidence of in her file, you should already know many behavior issues stem from a lack of stimulation in the class. Those children do much better when placed in classes where they are challenged, or are you unaware of modern educational theory?" she rebuked the counselor.
"There are accusations of drug use, and sexual indiscretions, not to mention gang affiliation," the counselor said, trying to continue her unfounded argument.
"The accusations you're making have no evidence to back them. They're all rumor and innuendo, nothing more," Sherri said.
"Nancy, your arguments aren't valid, and Sherri has proven her point," the principal said to the counselor, ending any further resistance.
"Mrs. Rafferty, as Priscilla's caseworker, what is your say in this matter?" the principal asked.
"Mrs. Bazemore, aside from being Priscilla's guardian, has made a well reasoned argument, and to be honest, I think she's right. DFCS will back her recommendations," the caseworker replied.
"Sherri, what do you want for Priscilla?" she then asked Sherri.
"I want her in the advanced placement class originally intended, and also in any other advanced placement sessions offered, which I believe she'd also been intended for. She informed us she's bored with math in her class, because she already knows all of the material being taught, but in only a matter of a few days, it's clear she's bored in school, not just math," she replied.
"Sherri, we have an advanced reading session, as well as the pre-Algebra session, but there's nothing else. We'll place her in the more advanced class too. Is this satisfactory?" the principal asked.
"It is, and thank you," Sherri replied, and smiled.
"Nancy, make the changes, and set up a meeting with the affected teachers. We need to inform them of their new student, so they can make any necessary adjustments," the principal said. Although Sherri was concerned about this meeting, she wouldn't worry about it too much. She'd achieved her goals, and Lilly had trusted her, which was her greatest accomplishment of all.
"Lilly, if you have any trouble, of any kind, let us know and we'll make it right," she told Lilly, once the meeting was over, and they were about to get in the car.
"Yes, ma'am," Lilly replied, giving Sherri a small smile, and then a quick hug.
Sherri and Leonard got me back into an advanced class, and also pre-Algebra and the advanced reading and writing class. The school people didn't like it, but Sherri made them. Sherri actually asked me before she did it if I was sure I wanted it. She is AWESOME!! And Leonard is AWESOME!! I love having them as foster parents, and I've only been in their house a few days! I hope I get to stay here for a long time.
"We have an unexpected change in a student's class placement. We moved Priscilla Pimlott from Pamela's class to James'. She'll also attend the advanced reading and the pre-Algebra sessions for the sixth graders," the counselor said.
"I've heard that name," James Clyburn, Lilly's new teacher said.
"Yeah, her name is on the gang list," Pamela Townsend agreed. Although she looked a little surprised by the change, she didn't seem upset by it.
"She's associated with some gang activity, including drugs and sex. However, her academic record supports this move, despite potential behavioral issues. Should there be any issues, report them immediately, and refer her to the office. I don't want one student bringing down the rest," the counselor said. She still wouldn't relent on the believed behavior problem.
"And why are you agreeing to move this child into our classes, if she's a known problem?" Kristi Lewis asked, who was about to be Lilly's pre-Algebra teacher.
"Because the current foster mother, along with her caseworker, want this," Nancy replied. "However if there are any problems, report them, and we'll have grounds to remove her."
As the meeting ended, Kristi Lewis headed to her room. The meeting bothered her. There was too much animosity toward this girl. By the time she walked into her classroom, her discomfort with the situation had intensified. If there were problems with this girl, why was there grounds to force her into classes she wasn't able to perform in? The next question concerned her more. Why was everyone against this child, if she could perform? Her only answer was, she'd know what Priscilla Pimlott was capable of soon.
YOU ARE READING
Lilly
Teen Fiction[COMPLETE] Known by all to be a druggie, gang member, prostitute and general all around bad person, Lilly is shunned by those she once called 'friends' and not trusted by those charged with her care. With everyone trying to shove her down, the negl...
