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S04.E14: District Board Meeting

chitowngirl

By chitowngirl
in Abbott Elementary

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Galileo908

Galileo908

(edited)

"I don't read emails before 1pm." Mood.

Loved the Bingo cards, and of course "Melissa threatens violence", "Janine needs help with something silly", and "Jacob makes an impassioned speech" were squares. Speaking of, a Stick Stickly reference in 2025 was not on MY bingo card tonight. Just as I was about to ask why that old lady knew so much Nickelodeon, Janine addressed it. (EDIT: And Barbara wins because Mr. Johnson said some Mr. Nonsense and asked for $50 and a sandwich!)

Jacob cried and RJ actively participating in class. Really nice that he requested a counselor...but he just HAD to slip that Abbott had "the material issues" covered. Congrats, Ava found a new person to destroy.

I knew Manny was not to be trusted. The red flags went off big time for me tonight.

And Gregory, you smooth. And Janine...you are not. Good seeing those dorks in love.

Edited by Galileo908
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Annber03

Annber03

Awwwwwwwwwwww, that ending with Janine and Gregory! That was so very sweet. I love how he finally just asked her point blank what was bugging her, and what a lovely way to resolve all of that. 

Also liked Barbara getting invested in the whole situation, to the point where she was joining Janine in trying to figure out what Gregory meant with that voicemail. 

The stuff with the district meeting was good, too. Great move on Ava's part, indeed, I love getting to see this side of her when it comes to hashing out the politics and economics around the school budget and whatnot. Also, she looked fantastic in her outfit. 

Also liked Jacob's idea of getting a counselor for the school. It's insane that schools have to make such big pleas for important things like this, so I really appreciate that this show takes the time to touch on how the teachers deal with that and the struggle they have to go through to get what they want for their students.

I really liked this episode. 

  • Like 10
Galileo908

Galileo908

1 minute ago, Annber03 said:

Also liked Jacob's idea of getting a counselor for the school. It's insane that schools have to make such big pleas for important things like this, so I really appreciate that this show takes the time to touch on how the teachers deal with that and the struggle they have to go through to get what they want for their students.

One school had its roof cave in and the only thing the district did was send a counselor! That's messed up.

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kathyk2

kathyk2

1 hour ago, DanaK said:

I didn’t understand why the board agreed to Jacob’s and Ava’s requests, when they earlier told various schools they would put a pin in their requests, and then were mad about it. Was the board just playing games with the schools? Were Abbott’s requests denied in the end? Was Manny lying to them?

I didn't like this episode at all it wasn't funny. I was surprised Gregory hadn't told Janine that he loved her. She wasn't asking for anything special and they have been a couple for several months. The teachers should remind the school board that students need current textbooks in order to pass the standardized tests.

Blakeston

Blakeston

2 hours ago, DanaK said:

I didn’t understand why the board agreed to Jacob’s and Ava’s requests, when they earlier told various schools they would put a pin in their requests, and then were mad about it. Was the board just playing games with the schools? Were Abbott’s requests denied in the end? Was Manny lying to them?

I think Manny was telling the truth - that the Board had decided in advance that they would throw money to Abbott this year, and not the other schools.

I think they gave the money to Abbott for the counselor in the end, and honored Ava's request to divide the remaining funds among the other schools. But they really weren't happy about it, so I guess they felt like Abbott played them?

  • Like 7
DanaK

DanaK

5 hours ago, Blakeston said:

I think Manny was telling the truth - that the Board had decided in advance that they would throw money to Abbott this year, and not the other schools.

I think they gave the money to Abbott for the counselor in the end, and honored Ava's request to divide the remaining funds among the other schools. But they really weren't happy about it, so I guess they felt like Abbott played them?

Ah, I guess I missed Manny telling them that or misunderstood what he said

  • Like 1
jah1986

jah1986

I really enjoyed this episode. I like it when Ava's heart comes out to play. But I did NOT like the idea that someone is now going to try to find out why Abbott has material things, nobody blackmails Ava.

How much money did the board have that a counselor 3 times a week still left $25000? 

And I loved Gregory telling Janine he loved her. I really enjoy that they are written as grownups, without creating unnecessary drama. How many times have we watched a show and said all this could have been settled if they just had a conversation? Gregory didn't even wait a day, they talked it out right away, loved that!

Manny still looking out for Abbott and 'Big Teagues'

  • Like 11
Empress1

Empress1

17 minutes ago, jah1986 said:

I really enjoy that they are written as grownups, without creating unnecessary drama. How many times have we watched a show and said all this could have been settled if they just had a conversation? Gregory didn't even wait a day, they talked it out right away, loved that!

Yep, Gregory in particular is a really good communicator. So often I think “just ask,” and he always just asks.

1 hour ago, luna1122again said:

Manny didn't lie and he's not a bad guy, from what I can see. He gave Ava the heads up that they were getting a chunk of change, and then the board got mad because they felt played by Ava into giving the other schools stuff. 

This was my interpretation too.

I know the show is filmed in advance of current events but I REALLY hope they can work the Eagles winning the Super Bowl in somehow. Sheryl and Quinta were HYPE after the win.

  • Like 9
possibilities

possibilities

Jacob was incredibly stupid to say that Abbott has its material needs met. He could have just asked for the counselor and not waved that red flag for all the other schools to wonder about.

But Ava was also incredibly stupid to give Jacob the floor. She knows he's a loose cannon, and she had decided how to give the speech just right. One thing we've seen about Ava is that when she applies herself, she knows how to manipulate. And Jacob doesn't.

Of course, none of this would be done in public, right? Budgets get submitted in writing and decisions are made in writing, not in a big loud public forum where the questions about why one school got money and the others didn't would be obvious for all the world to see.

Barbar being ringleader for Bingo was fun.

And I agree it's nice to see a couple of adults having a conversation to work something out. Of course, Janine needs to get better at that, instead of going to Barbara and acting weird with Gregory. 

Changing the name of the drinks for Valentines Day was just the kind of stupid and annoying thing that I wish businesses wouldn't do. I had been wondering why it was taking Gregory so long to get the drinks and come back with them, but I can imagine the chaos and how much slower everything was moving under those conditions. 

  • Like 14
peeayebee

peeayebee

17 hours ago, Galileo908 said:

I knew Manny was not to be trusted. The red flags went off big time for me tonight.

I didn't notice anything that Manny did to appear to be a villain. 

2 hours ago, possibilities said:

Of course, none of this would be done in public, right? Budgets get submitted in writing and decisions are made in writing, not in a big loud public forum where the questions about why one school got money and the others didn't would be obvious for all the world to see.

Yeah, I was wondering about this, wondering if any school district has big meetings where funding requests are made.

I've got a bad cold, so maybe I missed it, but why did the school board decide  to give Abbott all the money? And they decided it ahead of time. Anything to do with the golf course?

I know things are exaggerated on sitcoms, but this whole denying funds to all schools but one was annoying. Of course there's comedy when a school begs for money to get windows, but the I didn't find the denials to be funny. Maybe the school board head needs to be more exaggerated to be amusing. More like a caricature. This actress, though good, doesn't have enuf comedic edge to be amusing to me. There's funny stuff from the schools, and dramatic stuff from the board.

I did love the bingo game. 

I like Manny.

Loved when Barbara said, "Didn't buy a ticket. Don't want to see the show."

  • Like 4
Crashcourse

Crashcourse

1 hour ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

Many schools (including the one I attended) are for K-8 despite what their names would imply. 

Oh, ok.  It's been ages since I attended school, but back then it was grades 1-6 elementary (I grew up in small town with no kindergarten), 7-9 junior high (not middle school) and 10-12 high school.

  • Like 3
SoMuchTV

SoMuchTV

I can’t get over the fact that a K-8 school doesn’t have even one counselor (unless I missed/misunderstood something).  Besides the emotional “counseling” they provide, in my experience they spend a lot of time preparing kids for the next step - course scheduling, transition to the their next school, etc. Is someone else filling that role at Abbott? 

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TwinkAdjacent

TwinkAdjacent

Agreed that bingo was hilarious --  my brother and I once did that to get through a family Christmas.

I know it was played for laughs, but the older gentleman teacher near tears really broke my heart. He kinda looked like my dad. Still, it goes to show that this show is SO good at casting the smaller roles. On that note, it was great to see Sabrina Wu again!

On 2/13/2025 at 8:37 AM, Empress1 said:

Yep, Gregory in particular is a really good communicator. So often I think “just ask,” and he always just asks.

Yes, I've always found that Gregory has very strong earth sign energy, IYKYK.

  • Like 3
ItCouldBeWorse

ItCouldBeWorse

On 2/12/2025 at 9:03 PM, Galileo908 said:

Really nice that he requested a counselor...but he just HAD to slip that Abbott had "the material issues" covered. Congrats, Ava found a new person to destroy.

Ava can invite her "soror" over to wash her hands in cold water.

Speaking of which, with no hot water, how many kids are even washing their hands after they use the rest room?  Germs everywhere.

 

  • Like 1
marceline

marceline

(edited)

A lot of good stuff in this ep. I especially liked Barbara's bingo cards because they were both Abbott-specific and full of corporate doublespeak.

Gregory is such an interesting character to me. On one level, a tray full of sea urchin sends him sprinting from the room like a child but when it comes to Jeanine he is steadfast, present and brave. Question: I've been out of the dating game for decades, is the first "I love you" still that big a deal?

I need Jacob to get smarter and soon. That said, something I found decidedly unfunny was when the students asking about a club walked away and one of them said "Chop, chop, Bitch" and Jacob replied, "What did I say about calling me 'Bitch?'" Nothing about that kind of open disrespect is funny to me.

Edited by marceline
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Galileo908

Galileo908

7 hours ago, marceline said:

A lot of good stuff in this ep. I especially liked Barbara's bingo cards because they were both Abbott-specific and full of corporate doublespeak.

There's a post in the subreddit that caught Barbara's card. "Melissa misses Sweet Cheeks" was one of the squares!

It was also a fun meta commentary on how predictable the characters are.

-Melissa threatens violence

-Jacob makes an impassioned speech

-Janine needs help with something silly

-Mr. Johnson says some Mr. Nonsense

-Jacob explains an element of black culture

-Gregory has food trauma

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Black Knight

Black Knight

On 2/13/2025 at 4:13 PM, possibilities said:

They decided to give money to Abbott because Ava gave some speech for them and they were rewarding her for doing it. They said exactly what it was but now I can't remember.

It's a reference to the events of the fourth episode this season, "The Deli". Ava was asked to talk to fellow principals about how she does her job. She struggled with putting together her presentation, but eventually figured it out with some help and killed it.

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