Some thoughts

You reflect that Ms. Bell must be the teacher that Tony Dogs said was now working the street in Brooklyn, earning for the Tortella family, after he and some others had run a train on her. You wonder how much, if any of that story is known at the school, and you make a mental note to bring her up at dinner tomorrow.

For your own protection, it would be wise to learn more about the teachers that were fired. Apart from Ms. Bell, you don't even know their names. You assume that one of them taught history and geography, hence your hiring, and another probably taught physical education. You know that the Dean of Students position was vacant before this year, so you wonder what the other two taught. It shouldn't be too hard to find out, despite the unease that female faculty members exhibit every time the subject of last year's trouble come up.

There's more than an hour until the first orientation session. This might be a good time to do a little research you think as you look at Chanel sitting unhappily among her chattering friends.

"It's been a pleasure," you say, rising and smiling at your colleagues. "I've got a few things to take care of, and I'd better get to it."