A beloved, respected, and highly accomplished superintendent in a rural, high-risk district, Mr. Carroll, is confronted with dissident board members for the first time in his 7-year tenure. Two newly elected members have strained relationships between current board members and are calling for his resignation based upon what they perceive as low SAT scores, the excessive amount of Carroll's salary, and the district's focus on academic growth, rather than achievement, of students. Despite mediation from the state aimed at easing tensions on both sides, the issue reaches a boiling point at a board meeting.