CAT Tracks for March 19, 2003

CAT Tracks for March 19, 2003

CAIRO BOE VOTES TO CLOSE CJHS BUILDING

Citing major renovation expenses in order to be able to insure the CJHS building beyond this year, the Cairo Board of Education voted last night to close the building at the end of this year...

Different suggestions were discussed as to house the students so affected...actions that would have a rippling effect on other buildings. The Board indicated a desire/need to meet with the various labor unions in order to discuss the impact on personnel. The CAT is tentatively scheduled to meet next Tuesday, March 25, 2003.

The move to close a building had been rumored for months...especially following the failed bond referendum for a new elementary school building. The "take over" by the ISBE Financial Oversight Panel gave impetus to finding money-saving measures.

In a related matter, the Cairo BOE discussed the possibility of curtailing transportation costs by only busing students "required by statute"...i.e. those living outside the city limits or more than a mile and a half from the school. However, no action was taken for lack of a motion.

There was also a discussion of Cairo sharing classes with surrounding Districts...Dongola, Century, Egyptian, and Meridian. The purpose would be to make curriculum offerings available to students that would be otherwise impossible due to small enrollments.

The Cairo BOE also voted to make the following (future) changes:

Change beginning-ending times for CHS and Emerson Elementary for next school year...CHS would begin at 8:05 a.m. and end at 3:05 p.m. Emerson would begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.

Beginning with the 2004-05 School Year, the CHS grading system would be changed to the standard "college" grading system...90-100 would be an A, 80-89 a B, 70-79 a C, and 60-69 a D.

For 2004-05, CHS would require 4 years of English, 2 years of Science, and 3 years of Mathematics for graduation.

Also beginning in 2004-05, Government/Economics would be a Junior offering. (A possible oversight...No mention was made of U.S. History being made a Sophomore-level course.)

Pre-Algebra would be offered at the 8th Grade beginning in 2004-05 and Algebra would become the "standard" 9th Grade mathematics class beginning in 2005-06, as General Mathematics would be eliminated.

Also beginning with the 2004-05 School Year, a new ACT-Prep class would become a requirement.

Two Special Meetings of the Cairo BOE were announced...March 26th for Personnel Decisions and April 3rd to seat and reorganize the Cairo BOE following the election of new members on April 1st.

The only other item of general interest...a parent appeared before the Board and inquired as to this year's graduation date for CHS. Dr. Isom indicated that a previously discussed date of May 18th was not viable in light of the number of emergency days that had been used this year. The Cairo BOE then voted to set the 2003 graduation date as Sunday, May 25th...yes...again, on the Memorial Day weekend.

The meeting adjourned at shortly after 9 p.m.

A special "Thank You" to our intrepid reporter (De De O'Shea), who covered this meeting in my absence. She gave up (another) 4 hours of her life to keep us abreast of the latest happenings in CSD #1.