CAT Tracks for September 20, 2002

Add the CAT to the list of check S.N.A.F.U.'S...

As YOU are well aware...the District deducts union dues from your paycheck...from September through May. That money is then sent to the CAT. The bulk of the "September 15th" check is made out to the CAT...our local dues of $20 per member. A check for the remainder is made out to IEA-NEA, sent to CAT, and forwarded to IEA-NEA. All successive checks are sent to the IEA-NEA (through the CAT).

Well...that's what is supposed to happen. One could "ass/u/me" that...if one were to disregard the implications of that word. Fortunately, the CAT has learned by experience...did NOT write/send checks to vendors in anticipation of "pay day".

Yep...you guessed it...no check. The CAT DID receive a check...made out to the IEA-NEA...which will have to forwarded...IN FULL...to them. One positive...I guess you could call it a positive...there was a note enclosed with the check indicating that the District office knew that an error had been made...that it would be corrected on the September 30th payroll.

LAUGHINGSTOCK

You won't be surprised by the following story...YOU have gone to out-of-town conferences/workshops...identified yourself as being from CSD #1...been subjected to the "what's the latest in Cairo" question...a line delivered with a smirk and a gleam in the eye.

Went to the monthly bargaining training at the IEA office in Marion on Wednesday night. We were asked to bring a copy of our district's budget and annual financial report (AFR)...the plan was to do some training on how to analyze same for use in negotiations. (Hey...2005 is just around the corner! Groan...you're right...that remark was NOT FUNNY!

The IEA is a class organization...they are always prepared. They knew that some folks would forget to bring the requested materials...or would not be able to readily obtain them from their district. So...they selected a "sample" district and ran off copies for all attendees...and used THAT district for analysis.

Yep...guessed right again! The sample District was none other than Cairo School District Number One.

For the next two-and-a-half hours, assembled union representatives from IEA Region's 1 & 2 were given an up-close-and-personal review of the finances of CSD #1...in many respects a primer on "how NOT to do a budget"...complete with illegal transfers of funds, incorrect entry (copying) of numbers, etc. The evening was..."instructive".

FOOTNOTE:

What is truly amazing...and indicative that "something is rotten" in Cairo...

...while some are allowed to REPEATEDLY mess up payroll, make illegal fund transfers, cause the District to pay penalties...and receive praise, promotion, and a raise...others are disciplined...threatened with termination...for an alleged missing attachment...an alleged missing date on a document...

No discrimination? No ulterior motive? Draw your own conclusions!