CAT Tracks for November 22, 2002 Hey...Lighten Up!

This CAT has noticed a lot of "Hang Dog" expressions of late...

It's easy to get depressed when you see the Cairo Board of Education and administration take repeated steps to disrupt the school district...that's normal enough. I mean, under their "enlightened" leadership, they have:

Geez...STOP!...It DOES get depressing doesn't it?...and the list could go on and on and on...

Okay...in the words of one of my mentors..."Don't let the ba*@%&ds get you down." When the Board and administration does "their thang"...and there WILL be more of the same...I mean, they ARE a bottomless pit...just consider the source...and move on!

The Cairo Board of Education and administration WANT to beat you down...hopefully into submission. The Cairo Board of Education and administration want you to finally declare "the last straw"...and leave. The Cairo Board of Education and administration want you to stand back and allow them to complete the destruction of a once and great educational system. Well...and, I know I speak on your behalf...I don't think so!

On the ISBE front...

Today is our first SIP day since the District declared war on its employees... Many of you have already had occasion to be working with ISBE in forging the future educational environment of Cairo School District Number One. (At the high school, we have yet to do so...but, hey, it's still a long way to April...right?!) I know each and every one of you have and will continue to demonstrate your professionalism in the face of the continued insults hurled at you. YOU will clearly show our Educators In Residence (EIRs) that WE ARE NOT THE PROBLEM...never have been. We have been and will continue to be part of the solution...if the Cairo Board of Education and administration...since they refuse to "lead or follow"...will just get out of the way!

On the Julie Newell front...

Again...since many of you have asked and many more of you are wondering...

Of course...it hurts when your "boss" shows total contempt of your life-long commitment and contribution to Cairo School District Number One...a school system which you attended as a child. (I know you have empathy...since they are doing the same thing to you!) But...again...consider the source! When your "boss" has proven to one and all that he/she/they do not care...that they simply want to use the District for their own personal monetary gain and/or "prestige"...It's time take a deep breath and go back to work.

Julie has already done that... The day after the Board voted 6-0 to approve the superintendent's recommendation...(Well...amend that! On second thought, the superintendent didn't have...the occasion...to make the recommendation. The President of the Board jumped in to do the dirty deed.) Anyway, as I was saying...following the vote...an IEA official...acknowledging the anticipated "verdict"...sent a short...to the point...e-mail..."Well, it's on to Round 3".

Yes...as Julie's EEOC attorney informed the Board on Monday night...a long and costly legal battle will now begin. (I'm sure Friend Barney is VERY happy!) The Cairo Board and administration can gloat if they wish...they can count their "winnings". But...as the saying goes..."It ain't over till it's over." As mentioned before, the Cairo Board of Education and administration have delared "war" on their employees. And...they've "won" a battle or two...when they enjoyed "home field advantage". NOW the battleground shifts...we take "their act" on the road. After hearing and seeing the impassioned presentation by Julie's attorney and witnessing/hearing "the story" told by the District, we will eagerly take our chances!

"Down and out?" It's always depressing to witness acts of injustice and inhumanity...and, yes...they voted her "out". But...this fight has only just begun!

For those of you who missed the electronic version of the November 19th CAT Tracks, I have taken the liberty of including it...

POSTSCRIPT: A clarification if you will...I reread the CAT Tracks for November 18th...the one about the ISBE "substitutes" having trouble in maintaining control. Just so there is no misunderstanding concerning the comment about "chaos...punching, kicking, and screaming", I would like to emphasize that the Emerson Principal was NOT in the building...having gone with our Pre-K teachers to view the "Egyptian Model"...AND...our highly capable teachers' assistants...who have shown repeatedly that they CAN "run the program"...were put under restriction...NOT to interfere with the new educational approach! AGAIN..."our" people are good...highly competent and highly committed. WE are NOT the problem!

So...if you will excuse one more quote from an old history teacher (Hey...watch it with that "old" stuff!)...in the words of Benjamin Franklin..."We must all hang together, or we will most certainly all hang separately."