A Moment to Savor
Meanwhile, Ms. Fiello effectively exits stage right tonight even though the new Superintendent is not due to take charge until January. Because of the rare and unambiguous gifts Ms. Fiello brought to an office that used to resemble a Rubiks Cube, I regret her stepdown. A gentleman of my acquaintance, who made the accumulation of wealth and power an early priority, uttered a wry observation this morning when he was waiting in line at a bakery of our acquaintance. Biggest area rug I ever have seen, 4.8 square miles, he said. He needed to interpret his sardonic needle. For all the secrets that are swept under the rug in this town, he winked, you must have a very big rug to accommodate them. That was the prevailing political culture of Culver City when Ms. Fiello temporarily succeeded to the Supers chair on Aug. 1, following the retirement of Dr. Laura McGaughey. Before she was awarded the interim chair, Ms. Fiello had to agree not to be a candidate for the permanent position.
Postscript
May I remind you, dear reader, of an argument I made on Sept. 7 for hiring her as the new Super: She is smart. This is the main reason the rhythms and dynamics emanating from the Superintendents office have sharply changed. She brings balance, moderation, maturation, stability, enthusiasm, creativity or, to say it differently, gravitas and confidence to her position. I could not have thought up half that number of gifts to describe my second wife, let alone any other educator I have known. As a smalltime student of history, may I suggest that Ms. Fiellos tenure hereafter be known as the Enlightenment?
