CAT Tracks for May 1, 2003 CHS PRINCIPAL DISMISSED

Well, it took three hours and a new (substitute) lawyer...but the Cairo BOE did "as advertised" in voting to dismiss the Cairo High School Principal.

Barney didn't make it tonight. Gene Hanson (sp?) handled the dismissal case in his absence. There are no details to report as the proceedings (as expected) were conducted in closed session. The only surprise...they ALWAYS come up with something...was that they asked the principal to stay after the meeting...so they could sign the dismissal resolution...and hand deliver it. How tacky!

This case (in addition to previous cases) promises to earn the District's law firm BIG BUCKS. The District has gone broke...has had to be bailed out by the State...but continues to throw away precious education dollars on lawyers. Who can forget the $20,000 a month "Barney Bills" from a year ago?

(At the regular meeting of the Financial Oversight Panel in April, one of the Panel members asked if the principal suspension/dismissal case had any financial implications for the District. You would think a question/comment like that would give one pause...a hint...maybe we should rethink this action...seek an amicable - i.e. CHEAP - solution. NOT Cairo School District Number One!)

If you are the eternal optimist...that always looks for a silver lining...I've got one for you. If you have watched local news lately...especially tonight...you have seen that the Cairo city government promises to replace Cairo School District Number One as "headline news". So at least maybe we won't have to be embarassed by reading our (educational) dirty laundry in the news for a while!