Disclaimer: I do not own Recess!

Spinelli Woods, Esq.: Yeah, I always thought that Hank and Miss Finster should have gotten married, heehee! Keep reading!

Fantasy3: Of course I wouldn't kill off King Bob, he's my favorite character :)! lol, keep reading!

A.L. Nowicki: Yes, believe it or not, a teacher of our's actually threw us a party this year, so I kinda stuck that in the story. Keep reading!

angel9220042004: Yes, Miss Finster is no longer a grouch! How can she be, when she's married to cheery old Hank? Lol, keep reading!

Chapter Seventeen: The School Board Meeting

Finally, after two weeks of hard preparation to face the school board (whose president was none other than Prickly's wife), the seniors and their parents were able to meet with them. Everyone had chosen T.J.'s mother to be the head spokesperson, since she was a sensible person who wouldn't lose her head or get too emotional.

Just about everyone in the class showed up for the meeting, which took place in a room that wasn't big enough to hold everyone, causing some people to stand in the hall.

"The board recognizes the senior class of Ronald Reagan High," the secretary stated, shuffling some papers.

Mrs. Detweiler came forward to the little podium that faced the board members. She dug out the letter that the children had put together while Vince and Gus set up the chart the girls had made.

"Members of the board," Mrs. Detweiler started. "I'm here to speak for all the graduating class and their parents. For the past few months, we have been having difficulties with our principal, Mr. Peter Prickly, allowing the children to have their graduation their way. I personally have nothing against the man, but I feel his judgment is a little ridiculous. For starters, he insists upon the class having graduation in the school's own auditorium, when for the past four years, the graduating classes have been graduating from the local college's Armstrong Auditorium.

"Reasons we are so against having the procession at Ronald Reagan Auditorium, is for many reasons, as indicated on the chart we have, and I'll gladly read them aloud. The school's building can only hold about four hundred people, meaning each child can only invite maybe fifteen people each, while at Armstrong there is seating for nearly nine hundred. Armstrong has air conditioning, which Reagan's does not."

Mrs. Detweiler continued to read off the chart of pros and cons between the two auditoriums (A/N: sorry, I couldn't remember them all!). She then went into the fact that the seniors had to pay for everything for graduation, so it only made since to have gradation their way.

"For several years, the class has had to raise money outside the school for the senior prom, which each year is something the juniors have to pay for. The kids have one thousand and two hundred dollars still in the bank under their name, not the school's. They can use the money for insurance at Armstrong, flower arrangements, programs, and other things."

Ex-superintendent Skinner nearly fell out of his chair when he heard this. "Excuse me? Did you say the kids had to pay for prom, and then pay for all that other stuff? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of!"

Some other board members agreed, and Skinner continued to talk. "I've never heard of a class having to pay for all the graduation fees before, or paying for their own prom either! All the other schools in the district pay for everything themselves; the class doesn't pay for anything."

"Scandalous!" the Ashelys chanted in shock.

This came as a shock to everyone. "So, we've been paying for stuff that the school should have been paying for?" Spinelli growled. "That is SO the last straw!"

"Calm down, Spin," T.J. pleaded, trying to hush her up.

Mrs. Detweiler was a little surprised herself. "Well, we were under the impression that the children had to pay for everything."

"That impression is very wrong," the secretary inputted. "You have no right to pay for those things."

"Um...okay," the mother stuttered. "Then, I guess the only thing we ask for now is for a chance to talk to Principal Prickly, with the supervision of a board member, and try to talk this over with him. Several of us parents have tried to before, but he won't have it."

"I'll accompany you myself," Skinner offered. "How does next Monday sound, first thing in the morning?"

Mrs. Detweiler was flabbergasted. "That...that would be great!"

"All right, then," the secretary said. "I call this meeting adjourned!"

Hm, a pretty interesting meeting! What goes on at a school that even the BOARD doesn't know about! Hope ya liked and don't forget to review!