AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WEEK

CONVERSATION III

SCHOOL BUDGET MEETING

Outline: Just like any other school in the district, Abraham Lincoln High received its annual state budget last December, plus a
grateful 20% extra bonus due to its high students’ approval and class attendance ratings and low-class absence ratings. The school
principal has called for a meeting with the other board members to decide how to spend these extra 20%.

1. School Principal – Since, in your point of view, all departments have already been properly attended by this year’s budget, the
extra bonus should firstly be used to improve school’s facilities through general maintenance and accessibility systems. You are,
however, aware that those 20% are more than enough for that, so you are open to any ideas that may benefit the school even
further on long term.

2. Head of the English Department – For the past three years, your department has taken most advantage on the budget
splitting, since you have always convinced the Principal that “in class grading is better for the school’s reputation than any other
program, and the best way for the students to achieve this goal is by developing their textual analysis skills on English classes”.
Nevertheless, as it is constantly pointed out by you, it is necessary to renew the school’s library, since the students don’t take
proper care of the books, as well as you feel a need of having some of the new contemporary classics to work on next year.

3. Head of the Sports Department – A bigger investment in sports might be the opportunity for the ABH sports program finally
becoming one of the districts' finest. For you, this bonus would be of great help in terms of gym and sports equipment, this way
the school athletes can grow bigger, faster, stronger and more resistant. You agree with the Principal when it comes to facilities
maintenance, especially the football field, which grass needs to be replaced, and the school bus, which doesn’t attend the state’s
safety regulations nowadays, being impossible for both football and basketball teams to literally go to the state finals if they are
able to do so on the field / court.

4. Head of the Chemistry Department – You are aware that the latest big change in the school’s structure has been in your
department last year, when the chemistry lab was created. At the same time, it was a dream coming true for you, it was also a
nightmare. On one hand, the student’s sudden interest in chemistry was way higher than expected, which lead to a material
shortage by the end of the year. A lot of glassware has been lost, through breaking and – even – stealing. And there is a
speculation that the chemical components which need to be restocked will be more expensive next year. On the other hand, last
year’s Chemistry attendance rating and grades reached a historical top record in all district. So, your goal is to convince the
Principal not only to invest the bonus on the Chemistry lab once again, but also make him see that, although the department’s
costs have raised, it is capable of bringing immediate results to the school.

5. Head of the Music Department – The extra 20% on the school budget would be great for your department, since this year you
are planning a mega festival during Open House. For this festival, your department will need new props, clothes and to tune up all
the school band’s instruments. Your biggest challenge: the Drama department is also planning something big this year and is
looking for this extra cash as well.

6. Head of the Drama Department – The extra 20% on the school budget would be great for your department, since this year you
are planning a Broadway-style production during Open House. For this production, your department will need new props, clothes
and to make over the school’s old auditorium, the only place big enough for such a marvelous play. Your biggest challenge: the
Music department is also planning something big this year and is looking for this extra cash as well.

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 AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WEEK

CONVERSATION III

7. Head of the Physics Department – You have never asked for anything during the three years you have been participating of the
board. But, since last year the Chemistry department had gotten a new lab for their practical classes, you noticed how much more
interest your top students started to show on Chemistry instead of Physics - and you took it quite personally, once you and the
Head of Chemistry Department have always competed since you two were students! In your opinion, this year’s bonus should be
invested in a new physics lab, which can not only raise both approval and attendance rates for the next year, but can also make
students grow fond of physics once again. And, of course, this way you can rub on the Head of Chemistry Department’s face how
much cooler your lab is.

8. Head of Arts Department – Your department has always been seen as the outcast by others. Since the metal and wood shops
equipment had been broken through all last school year, attendance rates – which have never been among the highest, once
those who are interested in industrial arts rather go to a proper institution to develop their skills instead of taking classes at ABH -
severely lowered down comparing to previous years, which puts the program’s future in jeopardy. So, they need to be fixed as
soon as possible, and those extra 20% would be perfect not only for this, but to be used to further diversify the program’s
possibilities, such as finally having a budget for clay supply for sculpting classes.

COMPOSITION: Write about some of your school memories. What was your school like? What did you like the most about those
years. Was there anything that you wish you could have had in your school when you were younger?

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