I'm taking the rest of the week off, but I leave you in the capable hands of Sandra Larriva, who previously wrote some great freelance pieces (like this one) for South Orange Patch. She's also been filling in over at Millburn Patch.

I'm glad that the timing worked out for me to cover Principal Tom Gibbons' hearing on Monday evening, since I think it's one of the most compelling stories to have surfaced in my time here. But, much of what makes it compelling is unknown—and may remain so—since Supt. Osborne and his staff are prohibited by law from speaking about personnel matters. And during the hour or so when Gibbons was making his appeal to the Board and parents were angrily commenting as they streamed out, Osborne was stoically silent.

It's clear that Gibbons is a man who commands devotion and respect from parents and students in the school community, but it's also clear that there's another side. (Gibbons' citations, in his own words, of sections of a performance review by the superintendent can't account for it.) I've tried (unsuccessfully) to reach out to South Mountain teachers to get their input, and I might try again when I get back. Again, there's something about this story that I'm intrigued by.

Enjoy your week. And maybe see you around, but hopefully not in South Orange Municipal Court, where I'll be tomorrow to appeal a parking ticket. Bye!