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Chapter 20: First Staff Meeting of the Year
It was the first staff meeting of the year and Hermione was determined not to be late she came in with her note pad and a biro. The youngest member of staff was greeted by Filius Flitwick, who proceeded to discuss his latest research with her thus taking her mind off the meeting. Finally the rest of the staff crowded into the staff common room. There were even representatives of the house elf community along with the Bloody Baron attending as the head spectre.
The room had a number of tables that were now placed together in a horseshoe shape and everyone was able to find a seat round the outside of this shape. Professor Snape came in and started to call everyone to order. Of course being academics he had to pull out his snarkiest professor tone to get everyone's attention.
"Welcome back. We have survived the first dinner and done the introductions. This year as you know we have some major changes to the faculty. We will continue to have changes in the operational processes and procedures of the school over the next 12 months. We have two key priorities that are revitalizing the academic standing of the school and improving the interhouse relationships. We have to heal the past and address the issues of our society for the last 50 years. These children who we teach and guide in their magic are the ones who make the changes and we need to cater for the new world we find ourselves in by stepping up to the plate. We need to change ourselves and lead the changes here in the school. We can shape the hearts and minds of the students.
We have a number of new faces and we will gain more through out the year. Miss Granger has come on as one of our first Study Support tutors and she will be working with students in the Library resource centre to help those who need assistance with their academic work. I have already identified a couple of students whom will need her skilled attention. She managed to get Harry Potter through his trials and tribulations for the last seven years so I think that speaks enough of her expertise as a tutor.
The old hands would have noticed that I did not announce a Head Girl or Boy so far this year as I wanted to get everyone's opinion on this matter. The final decision has to be made by Sunday evening so you have the next two days to see the students and put your vote in. We have some eighth year students who are undertaking the 7th year curriculum and I would like to keep them out of the vote. The reasoning behind this is that we only have a small number of returnees and there are concerns of favouritism or nepotism occurring if they are selected.
This year we are doing something different for the students over the weekend. All students in their year groups will be having tours and inductions to the various facilities round the castle. There have been major changes to the classroom layout so it is important that we get everyone familiarized quickly.
This year I have re-established with the help of Poppy Pomfrey, Minerva McGonagall and Pomona Sprout a number of committees including a research and development committee and the ethics panel. As you would have noticed that in your new employment contracts that there is a clause were you are all expected to participate in research including the preparation and submission of at least one research paper to a peer reviewed journal each term. Additionally we will have a regular program of academic skill development sessions to ensure that all staff members are across the new technology that has been introduced this year.
Filius will be supervising the student associations this year and we hope to increase the membership of some of the clubs. Where possible if it is your subject area you are expected to have a supervisory role. For example, the Transfiguration club will be covered by both Minerva and Marcus Turner, our new Head of House for Slytherin.
By the end of the month the staff numbers will be increasing as we are going to be offering an evening program from Monday to Thursday night. This evening program is based on the Muggle night school approach and will also be open to staff if you want to undertake further study or develop your life skills.
Poppy Pomfrey will be taking on a number of medical apprentices this year and these trainees will be helping to man and run clinic sessions. It should be noted that all the students are to be medically screened by Poppy and a team of alumni volunteers who all have medical training so we are aware of any issues and provide the appropriate response for the student. Medical screening will be come standard practice each term until we can be sure that we have overcome all the issues created by the war.
Additionally any extra additional potions and herbals to our needs will be supplied to the community either to St Mungo's or through the various charities.
Today at our meeting we have representatives from the house elf community. Those who have been here through the summer will have noticed that we have increased our ground staff numbers and we now have more of the old agricultural fields under cultivation. Pomona also has more greenhouses and the ground staff members are attempting to ensure we can supply almost all of our entire herbology potion ingredients needs.
During the last couple of weeks with the assistance of the goblin nation we have been collecting dangerous ingredients such as acromantula venom. There is a new forestry management plan for the Forbidden forest and areas that have not been coppiced in years are currently being addressed and we will be restoring our stocks and stores. The cost of the rebuilding had and will be significant so we have had to do a phased approach. Where possible we will be selling our excess such as the acromantula venom to help fund the school's development. Harry Potter has donated the Basilisk that he killed a couple of years ago and the income from the sale of this donation has paid for the teaching accommodation update and refurbishment of teaching rooms for the current staff and the redevelopment of the Library.
I have the timetables and schedules for the induction sessions over the weekend. With the assistance with Filius we have prepared a provisional academic calendar that will automatically update across the board when either Minerva or myself has confirmed a tentative entry by a member of staff. I will now hand the floor over to any open questions that you may have."
After that introduction to the new developments in the school there was some questions about scheduling and specific matters. Once all the queries had been addressed the meeting was closed and then some house elves arrived to provide a light wine supper for the staff. Tinky provided apple juice for Hermione in a wine glass so that she did not standout from her new peers. The house elves that attended the meeting stayed and were chatting to a number of professors about their normal roles in the castle management. It was not too long before Hermione slipped out through the private entrance and returned to her rooms for the night.