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136 LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE 8.17 JCPS seems to be a target a lot in the press. What kind of heat do you think JCPS and superintendents inevitably get? "We're dealing with lives and children here, so it's very per- sonal. We have 16,000 employ- ees. We have 101,000 students, multiple family members, so you're talking a large percent- age of this city has a direct connection to Jefferson County Public Schools. Decisions are gonna be tough ones that many times don't just have an easy answer. But we are committed to making sure all 101,000 students are successful. We as an organization have to accept responsibility of the things that we aren't doing as well, champi- on those things that we do well and lay out an effective plan for getting better." What do you imagine your day-to-day will look like in these next few months? "An important part of this job is being visible, talking to people, spreading a message of what we're doing and where we're going. Of course, I believe that unless you systemize something it won't happen. It's very easy for me to say I'm going to be in schools a lot, but unless I get with (communications director) Allison (Martin) and say, 'ree days a week we're going to schools, set me up a schedule, get it on my calendar,' we will not be in schools enough. I think it is very important not to just go to a school and go to a meeting and stop in the principal's office, but be in classrooms, talk to teachers, talk to kids, go to the cafeteria, be on a bus. All of those things are things that we have employees do every day. I've got to do the same thing." Have you ridden school buses as a principal? "It's been awhile, I'll be honest. But I think it's something that I need to do." How did you mentally prepare for this kind of demanding job? "When I first was faced with taking the job, I had some sleepless nights. Do I really want to do this? But my dad told me a long time ago to not ever listen to the inner voice when you get a new job that says you can't do something, be- cause if you believe you can, do it. You question that — the size of the job, the scope. But what I do know and believe is that the morale of our organization is low. It needs a lot of leadership, and I came to the conclusion that I'm the right person to do the job and will be successful at it like at every other job I've taken. I'm from this communi- ty, I'm about this community and Jefferson County Public Schools, so who better to do it than me?" Day to day, how do you phys- ically prepare for everyday challenges? "I'm a runner. I run a lot and I've got to continue to do that. I've noticed it has become more difficult at this time. I've always said I do my best thinking when I'm running. I'm going to have to figure out the best way to operate so I'm still accessible and still in schools when the school year starts." Where will you be on the first day of school (which for students is Aug. 10)? "Definitely in schools. We'll have a plan soon of what those schools will be — about seven schools. Everybody's in school Continued from page 35 Continued from page 59 Marty Pollio KID WITH A MIC Each month Harlow gets a check from streaming services like Spotify, and he gets paid for live shows, but it's not enough money to make a living off music yet. He does say he's finally getting closer to wanting to make a cohesive album, as opposed to the less-formal mixtapes he has released so far. "Everyone is kind of waiting for him to make his next move," his manager says. In mid-June, Harlow is in the Garden again, shirt off, his shoulders red from Bonnaroo. He's been lifting weights with Wyatt this summer, his muscles becoming more defined. While 2fo's in a beat trance, Harlow plays some of his old material on the computer. "Some of this shit is goofy," he says. "It on the first day. My challenge will be to do it the fourth day, eighth day, 120th day and so on. Doing that more often is going to be critical for me." Communications director Allison Martin chimes in, mentioning that, on the first day of school, Pollio's morning will start at 5 a.m. Pollio: "at's good." Martin: "He makes two visits in the morning, eats lunch in a school. It's a scheduling matrix." ey have a helicopter for you? Pollio: "I like that idea!" definitely makes me tense up a bit." During one verse on "Family Vacation," from junior year, he says, "I'm not the type to play. Unless I got the part. L-O-L, that's a joke I came up with." "God," Harlow says. e chorus, though, is "lightweight genius": "But I know it's all gonna be nostalgia soon, and when I look back I can say I caught it too." On the final verse he says "cash running low like the end of my name" and rhymes "larger" with "Founding Fathers." "I came out of my body on that bitch," he says. "You can hear my voice changing over the years," he says. "I sound like Simba grow- ing into himself." In a month he'll be under a canopy backstage at Waterfront Park, waiting for his Saturday afternoon set at Forecastle. He'll eat catered fried chicken and corn on the cob and this "cob- bler-type shit that's fire." He'll say, "is is the most lavish I've ever lived." As the crowd chants his name, he'll prowl behind the stage and bounce in place like a prizefighter. Toward the end of his set, Harlow will per- form "Ridin' Round Town" and rap, "Lookin' for that thing that gon' change my life, lookin' for that thing that gon' change my life. Man, that shit so real had to say that twice." at song came out in 2015 but he's been saying it for as long as he can remember. But right now, in the Gar- den, 2fo's beat is ready. And so is Harlow's chorus: "It's that wasted youth. Killing time. Say the truth. Feel the vibe." e bulb in the booth is shining bright white. Harlow takes a quick swig of water from a gallon jug. en he walks toward the light and shuts the door behind him. He steps up to the microphone. "I'm ready." Photo by Urban Wyatt