Anybody Know Where I Can Get $500?

DRAMA. Sheesh. I don't know what it is about me. In regular life, I am relatively drama-free. In school life, it clings to me like clothes I forgot to use fabric softener on.

Here is the current drama, henceforth known as THE GREAT BUS CONTROVERSY OF 2010.

As we all know, I did all the work last year for the 8th graders end of the year activities. This year, the 8th graders have really gotten nothing. There are many people to blame for this. Principal, mostly. She kept telling the teachers not to plan things because the kids were "bad." They didn't take up dues to pay for things. All kinds of other back door dealings that I wasn't privy to because 1. I'm not an 8th grade teacher and 2. I don't care.

So, about 2 months ago we had a big meeting with the 7th graders and told them they were getting 2 trips, one to Six Flags and one to skating. These were going to be good behavior trips, an encouragement for the kids to stay on task during the crazy month of May when everyone decides to lose their mind.

Well, almost immediately after we have this meeting, the CEO of the school system freezes the budget. So, we can't pay for buses to transport the kids. Everyone keeps telling us (the 7th grade team) to just charge the kids for the buses. But that would mean charging kids $75 to go to a barely decent Six Flags and $20 to go skating. I told them that was ridiculous and I wouldn't do it.
So we come up with the idea to write a letter to the son of our school's namesake, Mr. M. He's always talking about how we're a "family" but they don't really do much as far as supporting the school. With the help of other teachers, I wrote and typed a letter asking for about $750 to pay for our two buses, one for each trip. (Apparently, last year he gave some money to the school but Old Principal spent it all on ridiculous items. So I wrote in our letter that he could write the check directly to the Bus Company and leave out the middle man.)
Mr. M also owns a very successful business in the city, and our 6th grade administrator (Ms. G) works there part time. In fact, she's been working there longer than she has been in the school system. I had asked her about a month ago if she thought he'd be open to such a letter, and she said it was worth a shot. We wrote it, I gave it to her to deliver.
Every day since then, I've been in her room asking her if he said anything (skating was to be May 21, Six Flags May 28) She always said, "not yet."

On Thursday, I saw Mr. T. He comes into our school occasionally to substitute or just visit kids. He also has close ties with Mr.M and his main job is at his business. I was talking to him and just mentioned to him to maybe put a bug in the ear of Mr. M, as time was getting low. He said, "Give me your phone." He then called Mr. M. Surprise, Surprise, Mr. M had no idea what I was talking about.
However, he immediately agreed to pay for the two buses and told me to email him on Friday about the exact cost and who to make the check out to. I was so excited, I almost started to cry. And it was so easy! I had been sitting there nervous and twiddling my thumbs for weeks and a 5 minute phone call got it all right.

About 3:30pm, I'm in my classroom teaching my after-school program, when Ms. G comes in. I say, "Oh, hey. Did you speak with Mr. M?"

She says, "Yes. You know he wasn't going to keep that from me."

"What? I wasn't trying to keep anything from you." I gave YOU the letter!

She then says, "Well, since we've got the buses, you can take one to Six Flags with your kids but I don't want to go to Six Flags so I'll have to think of another trip for the other bus for my kids, maybe the Circus. So go ahead and get that ordered."

We then proceeded to have an argument, but the gist of it is this: I got buses for MY KIDS. I am not field trip planner extraordinaire for the whole school. If she wants buses, her or her 6th grade teachers can go ask for money themselves. She thinks that the same group of students doesn't deserve two trips when the other students don't have any trips. I told her to leave my room.

Friday comes along and I have informed the other 7th grade teachers of our little situation. They are very angry, of course.

It was a half day, so the students left at noon. During the afternoon, Ms. G goes to Principal and tells her this: Mr. M has gifted the school two buses for trips. So we will take the best kids in the school to Six Flags on May 28 and then the same group to the Circus in June. She thinks each grade should pick about 15 kids that can go. Principal agrees.

When I found out about an hour later, and tried to intervene I was told I was "too late" and everything was already a done deal.

I mean, I know I should be angry, and I guess I am sad that my kids get screwed. But I am so impressed with this level of bitchery I'm having a hard time getting upset. I mean, WOW, this woman really is the new queen and we should all bow down to her mastery of underhandedness.

So I spent Friday afternoon undoing all the work I did. I canceled my bus reservations, canceled the contract with Six Flags, told the secretary not to fax anything with my name on it to the school board (you have to fill out a huge form and get written permission for trips two weeks in advance.)

I mean, the least Ms. G can do is spend a few days actually organizing the trips, right?