Wizard Born

Chapter 32 - The School Board

The room was now full of adults all talking and trying to be heard over everyone else. Headmistress Malone had saved them seats at the front of the room. Right in front of the platform were five people were sitting at a long table looking out over the room. As soon as they were seated the central person spoke into a black cylinder that magnified his voice. "Silence please, we are ready to begin." He had to wait a moment for the talking to die down. "I now call the county school board meeting to order, we have one item on the agenda. Determining if it is feasible to keep Fieldspark Progressive School open. First up we have Jordan Pots to detailed the new security at Fieldspark."

A man with graying hair, dressed similarly to Uncle Percy stood up and was handed a black cylinder. He spoke for at least 10 minutes about the new gate and motion sensors on the grounds that could call for help all by themselves.

"Does anyone have any questions?" A woman board member seated on the end asked, when Mr. Potts finally finished.

A woman stood up. "How is a fancy security system going to make sure no more terrorists get hired as teachers."

The room started to buzz with whispers, "What!" and "It can't be true!"

The woman smiled at the sensation she had caused. "I heard it from a very reliable source. The police think that the terrorists attack had someone in the school helping."

Roxanne's jaw dropped and she looked wide eyed at Sevastian, who looked just as shocked.

The woman was still talking. "Most likely a teacher or a member of staff."

Roxanne gulped. It was almost too terrible to think about, one of the teachers helping men with guns into her school.

"If it was one of the teachers, I don't know if anything we say will help," Sevastian whispered.

During the uproar Headmistress Malone had been trying to say something. Finally someone handed her a black cylinder and she said. "I can assure you ma'am everyone hired at Fieldspark goes through a rigorous screening process."

"You're lying, you just want to keep your job," the woman said pointing at Headmistress Malone.

"The safety and well being of my students is my top priority," Headmistress Malone said coldly.

"Ladies, please calm down," the oldest board member said in a booming voice. Drowning out the muttering that had started.

"I have here the police report, that states Matthew Boyd. A former seventh year student at Fieldspark was the inside informant. Matthew Boyd was expelled last year from Fieldspark for violence towards his teacher." The board member held up an official file with the police symbol printed on it. "You can read the details about it in the paper tomorrow."

The woman sat down angrily, as if this was bad news. To Roxanne it seemed better that it was someone she'd never met instead of one of the teachers she saw every day.

"Any other questions or concerns about the safety of the school?" The board member waited a moment. "Good then we will continue. Next to speak is Headmistress Malone, at Fieldspark Progressive School."

Headmistress Malone stood and turned to face the crowd. "Fieldspark has a long history of educating children. We have top-ranked science and arts programs. Many of our graduates have gone on to Oxford, Harvard, and Yale. But more importantly than any of that is the fact that Fieldspark is a home away from home for our students. At Fieldspark they learn and grow and discover themselves. With me today are two first year students. You may recognize their names from the paper. Their bravery and ingenuity ensured no harm befell their fellow students during the terrorist attack. They are here today to tell you why they want to return to Fieldspark. May I introduce Sevastian Prince and Roxanne Weasley."