CAT Tracks for August 29, 2002

CAT Tracks for August 29, 2002

EMERGENCY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The "emergency" was for the Board of Education to decide...prior to a September 4th deadline...whether or not to place the question of raising property taxes to fund the $4.19 million local share of a new "state-of-the-art" K-8 elementary building for Cairo School District Number One...to replace Emerson, Bennett, and CJHS...on the November ballot. The decision was "YES".

Prior to voting on the measure, Superintendent Isom acknowledged that there had been much opposition to this measure last year...that, in fact, the measure was defeated by a 2 to 1 margin. However, he also expressed his belief that the existing buildings would have to be renovated if they were to continue to be used...at a cost equal to that needed for the new building.

Individual Board members indicated their belief that the measure SHOULD be placed on the ballot. Several members, however, indicated that the Board needed to approach the issue differently this time...to reach out to the public and employees...to seek their input...to try to gain their support. To this end, the Board created an ad hoc committee whose task is to meet with members of the various unions and segments of the community...to determine the feasibility of securing passage of the bond measure.

IN OTHER MATTERS...

District representatives are going to approach the Cairo City Council concerning the feasibility of imposing a daytime curfew in an effort to crack down on truancy.

The Board approved new social studies textbooks for the 7th and 8th Grades. These books are to paid for by the Gear Up program.

The superintendent reviewed a summary of the proposed District budget for the 2002-2003 School Year which was put on 30-day reading on August 26th. According to the budget...which is still subject to more "tinkering"...the District anticipates revenues for the current year to be $9,681,409, expenditures to be $10,048,705...for a year-end deficit of $367,296.

I'd swear that $367,296 figure looks strangely familiar...