Dealing with incompetent bureaucrats, a power-hungry parent, and a scheming superintendent aren't the only hurdles facing second-year principal Steve Hepting. Fortunately, he has steadfast allies, including the academically-challenged school custodian, a feisty eco-activist teacher, and a counselor urging calm amidst the swirling brouhaha. A mysterious blueprint for a "Brave New World" of public education not only threatens Hepting's school but the education system itself. The principal enlists the aid of a scandal-sniffing journalist as he and his colleagues grapple to uncover the truth. The comedic tale unfolds as the presence of an "Animal Hotel" on the deserted second floor unexpectedly complicates the implementation of the master plan and Hepting's role in the entire affair.