“Our kids are under extreme pressure, academic and social,” she said into the mic. “They are trying their best to navigate a difficult world. And I, for one, think that school should be their safe space.” She paused to look around, eyebrows raised, as the other parents nodded. “Instead, it’s become a place where they can be pulled out of class, willy-nilly, to be grilled by the police. These are children. We should be protecting them, not trying to trick them into talking to the police about things they know nothing about, and without their parents present. The school didn’t so much as contact the concerned parents before or after this incident. The administration has a duty to protect these students, and they have failed. Completely.” She turned and looked right at Dr. Johnson. “I think we all know there is a certain element in New Falls that is unfortunate, but unavoidable. In a rural area like this, there will always be a segment of the population that isn’t as focused on . . . let’s just say, success. If the police can’t deal with that, that is an issue for another meeting. But to drag our children, our students, into it . . . it’s shocking.”

Dr. Johnson had to hand it to her. Her husband might be the successful litigator, but Kim Jeffries had the crowd of parents eating out of her well-manicured hand. In a few quick sentences, she’d offered up to parents worried their kids might be at fault a host of alternative villains: the school, the police force, and the “rural element,” by which he assumed she meant anyone who was more focused on paying their mortgage than paying for SAT prep.

“New Falls High has always had an excellent reputation,” Mrs. Jeffries continued. “But I’d like to remind the board, and the administrators, that a school is only as good as its students, and its families. Many families in New Falls that could easily send their children to private schools make the choice to send them here. I’ve always considered it a good thing for the community, and a good thing for my daughter, to support our local public school. But the school’s reputation could change very quickly if parents can’t be assured that their children are safe here.”

Dr. Johnson glanced at his watch. Kim’s three minutes were almost up, thankfully.

“The school needs to take responsibility for involving our kids in this sordid business,” she concluded. “We expect an apology, and we expect that this will never happen to another innocent student. Thank you.”

Mrs. Jeffries returned to her seat to enthusiastic applause. But Dr. Johnson also noticed more than a few people who were sitting with their arms folded or whispering angrily to each other.