In which a decision was made on Aladren Commons

An Owl for Professor Kijewski

April 16, 2008 12:51 PM

In which a decision was made by An Owl for Professor Kijewski

Several days had passed since the confrontation had occurred in his office. Several days during which Manfred had considered firing Kiva on the spot for her complete lack of dignity, rationality and respect. It had taken quite an effort for him to calm down and get to the stage where he could consider the situation rationally again, but calm down he had. He only hoped that Kiva was similarly able to put the anger aside and look at this from a proper and professional point of view now. She hadn't made any efforts to provide him with evidence that she was or had put any consideration to what he had said so far, but hope was hope.

Dear Professor Kijewski, the letter he eventually wrote, after consideration, read.

As you have given me no further indication of what your plans are I am informing you of what school policy is in these situations, and how it will relate to your unique position. Paid maternity (and, for that matter paternity) lasts for three months. If you think you would like longer, you are more than welcome to ask for it and arrangements can be made, either for it to be unpaid or for the entire period to be paid, but at a lesser rate ultimately equal to what you would be paid for the guaranteed three months. If you would like to return to teaching before that you are similarly more than welcome to do so, provisions that will be described for the return to work would then be taken up early.

For the return to work, I heavily endorse returning as the Care of Magical Creatures professor in a day position. This would mean you are free to return to your mother's house after your classes are done with for the day, meaning you can spend more time with your young child. Duties to Aladren and as Deputy Headmistress can be given to others until you are prepared to make a more permanent break from child-rearing and have the time to dedicate to said duties.

It is, of course, your decision as to whether you take this option. If you do, I repeat for clarification that you are assured of the return of the mantles of Aladren Head of House and Deputy Headmistress when you both wish to retake them and can return to normal duties, so long as it is at the very longest a period of two years. If this is not satisfactory you are more than welcome to discuss options with me, and we will see what can be arranged.

Regards,
Manfred Bulla
Headmaster

He had considered rebutting her comments on other subjects, but it seemed petty and ridiculous to do so. If she was willing to go about sprouting things about other people, he was fairly sure she was perfectly capable of discovering the truth of their situations herself. Selina Skies, as the main example showed she hadn't been doing her research properly before sprouting about the women in power. Selina was a married woman with a husband to share parental duties. Perhaps, if Kiva was so interested in how Selina had managed her job and the child, she should start up a correspondence.

If nothing else it would probably give Kiva a better idea of what she was letting herself in for, while she still had time to prepare. But he chose not to include that suggestion as well. It had been made more than clear that his suggestions in regards to Kiva putting consideration to the situation were not welcome.

Still, he hoped that at the very least that she had paid enough attention to realise that what the Council and Sonora between them offered by way of Parental Leave was much more generous than anything she could have expected from the Muggle World. Or, for that matter, from the Cabinet.

The letter was folded, sealed and sent off to find Professor Kijewski via one of the school owls, and Manfred, after spending some time looking out over the school grounds from his window, settled down at his desk to get some more work done. They would have to work out when Professor Kijewski would be taking her leave so a substitute could be arranged for to take care of her classes. And staff would have to be considered for taking on the roles of Aladren and his Deputy as well. And that was aside from the usual things and the arrangements for the festival at the end of the year.

Kiva would be a mother by then, Manfred realised. How strange, the difference that a little time could make. \r\n\r\n

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