CAT Tracks for November 12, 2002

CAT Tracks

POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

For years, members of the Board of Education and a succession of superintendents have accused me of using the CAT to advance my personal agenda. Being the svengali that I am, I constantly force you - the "mindless sheep" - to perform untold rebellious acts. Every bargaining year, rumors begin to fly...rumors designed to divide the membership from its leadership. It happened again this past year...before and during the strike. Those attempts...as have previous ones...failed miserably. You stood stong and united. They failed because you knew the rumors were NOT TRUE. Why? Because you know that the CAT is fighting YOUR battles...NOT mine.

The following comments are offered because so many of you over the past ten months have inquired into the health status and employment status of my wife, Julie. My canned response: "She's hanging in...She has good days and bad days." Truth be told...it's bad days and worse days. Julie has suffered and continues to suffer a lot of physical discomfort. But...you know Julie. She is not one to burden others with her problems, preferring to do for others...and draw genuine satisfaction from their pleasure.

Living with lupus...under the best of circumstances...is difficult. During the past ten months, circumstances have been far from ideal...

As most of you know, Julie was suspended WITHOUT PAY on January 10, 2002. During the regular meeting of the Cairo Board of Education at 5 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2002, a hearing is to be conducted and the superintendent is scheduled to recommend that Julie Newell's employment with Cairo School District Number One be terminated...an employment spanning 34 years...an employment recognized as superior by supervisors and fellow employees alike!

The termination hearing was rescheduled from August 22, 2002, at the request of Julie's attorney and rheumatologist. Julie's lupus condition had flared due to the associated stress...something her doctor warned the District about back in January! In fact, Julie's doctor had to resume her chemotherapy treatments despite his fears of resultant malignancies. The District "graciously" granted an extension...although Julie had to agree that the termination hearing would proceed - with or without her presence - on November 18th.

Julie's original crime(s)...she was hospitalized over the Christmas holidays...allegedly did not notify her supervisor...and did not complete a lunchroom form - a new form which she repeatedly requested, but was not provided. Later - after a 3-month investigation...an "investigation" with no participation by or consultation with the "accused" - Julie was mailed a four-page listing of alleged "sins" - ranging from not paperclipping forms together and not putting a date on a form to being absent due to medical checkups and rehabilitation! Horrors!

I mean...think REEEEEEAL hard now! Do you know of any other employee in Cairo School District Number One who has ever done something similar...or worse? Were they suspended? How long were they suspended...WITHOUT pay? How many of these employees were recommended for termination? How many were terminated? You catch my drift?

Why the differential treatment? No explanation has been forthcoming...so one can only speculate. It is a FACT that Julie had to file a complaint against the District with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision due to the District's refusal to grant her request for reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act. What is becoming more and more evident, is that this Board and administration is in a full retaliation mode...it is determined to punish any and all employees who "have the gall" to exercise their rights under law! Julie Newell is scheduled for November 18th...the high school faculty for the end of this year...the junior high faculty for the end of next year...NEXT?

(Incidentally, we have it on good authority that the new Board of Education came in with a "business" philosophy..."get rid of the problems...start fresh." Well...they are certainly following their business plan to the letter!)

During this past summer's final negotiations session, the Board bargaining team even demanded that the CAT "sign off" on a contract provision that would preclude Ron Newell from filing a grievance or unfair labor practice charge due to any action taken against his wife. Does something smell rotten to you?"

If you want a closer "smell"...the November 18th Board meeting is fast approaching. It could give new meaning to the historical "Black Monday"!