2003-05-06 - 8:27 p.m.
THE LITTLE MATTER OF THE KITCHEN
Have you ever known a kitchen to suddenly break? During the day yesterday, while the seventh and eighth graders were in the cafeteria, a very odd noise came from the kitchen. Some said it was a low boom. Some said it was a rumble. When it ended, no one was hurt but floor tiles were popped out of the floor in one area and another looked like a gigantic mole had come through. Because no one was sure what caused the problem or whether there was any chance a gas line was affected, the whole school heeded the alarm and marched out into the cold and damp.
Given the oddities, the next step of the evacuation plan came into play. The children were all marched down the block where a synagogue graciously took in the entire student body. That protocol had been worked out after the last time there was a need to evacuate and the school had to shepherd the students onto busses. The synagogue is not huge but, luckily, the school population isn�t either. The gas company came in, looked around, said, �that�s interesting but it has nothing to do with us,� and sounded the all-clear.
So Day-Hay is bringing her lunch every day for the foreseeable future and they are bringing in sandwiches for the children who get free lunch. Before last night�s school board meeting, we went to survey the damage. The kitchen is in the part of the building that dates from 1928. I�m not sure what is going on but it sure looks like some problem with the foundation. It sure looks like an expensive problem with the foundation. Heck, it looks like the aftermath of an earthquake in there.
We went from the site inspection to the budget meeting. The meeting was long and difficult. We are faced with having to make a lot of cuts and all the �easy� cuts have been made. Little that is non-program is left to cut. There�s only so much you can cut in paper and lights and secretarial help. Maintenance sometimes can be deferred but only for so long before it costs more that it would have.
And, sigh, then there�s the little matter of that kitchen.
LAST YEAR: in Washington
Space in My House
Roar
Excitements of Marriage
Authority
Your Tax Dollars at Work
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Copyright 2006 by Ellen |
