CAT Tracks for September 27, 2002 September Board Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m. In attendance were Joe Griggs, Vernon Stubblefield, Berlene Jones, Carlandus Mallory (arriving at 5:16 p.m.), Marlene Schultz, and Brenda Gooden.

Prior to the regular meeting, a public hearing was held on the 2002-2003 budget. Dr. Isom indicated that there was "still work to be done" and that "as usual" it will be amended later. Receipts for the coming year are estimated at approximately $9,681,000...expenditures are estimated at $10,048,000...for a net deficit on June 30, 2003 of $367,000.

(Refresher course: During the strike, the District "advertised" that it was losing $22,000 per day. After we voted to return, the District chose to NOT make up the days...because "the teachers will lose more than the District!" So...the District threw away $22,000 x 17= $374,000. That forfeited amount comes out of this year's budget! Hmmm...quite a coincidence.)

As an aside to the hearing, Dr. Isom reminded the Board that ISBE has a cap on increased costs of administration...can only "grow" at a rate of 5% a year. WE know that the District increased the number of adminstrative positions this year...and gave 4.25% raises! However, according to Dr. Isom, administrative costs have decreased this year? He stated that this was due to the removal of certain personnel who had previously been improperly classified as "administrative". It would be interesting, indeed, to find out who these individuals were...

The regular meeting began at 5:17 p.m. It was a relatively uneventful affair...

The latest legal bill (THRU 7/31) was $21,835.26. The only thing surprising was that the amount prompted questions from a Board member...as in "why so much...what was it for?" After hearing the explanations, the Board member commented that maybe it was time to "wean ourselves" from the legal services. Hear, hear!

Oh...and the latest electric bills...Emerson - $2,606...Bennett - $1,614...CJHS - $1,937...and CHS...can I have a drum roll, please...$10,580.

Enrollment figures: Emerson - 249; Bennett - 194; CJHS - 182; CHS - 201.

A brief controversy arose due to an act of generosity. The CHS Egypti sponsor informed the Board that she was (again) donating her stipend to the organization to defray the cost of the yearbook. The question raised was whether the sponsor should be receiving a stipend since the yearbook was being produced as part of a Journalism class. After it was explained that the class involved more that producing the yearbook...and that the production of the yearbook required more than what was done in the class...the Board "graciously" voted to allow the sponsor to donate her stipend to the organization.

Constance Williams made a presentation to the Board concerning the District's ISAT results. There WERE some positives among the gloomy statistics...including instances where the majority of students "met/exceeded" state goals. However, overall, much work remains to be done...which comes as no surprise to those who follow the usual negative local news reports concerning Cairo Public Schools.

Mark your calendars...ISBE is sending a team of 16 people to the District on October 9th and 10th. Why? To "go through everything"...finances, curriculum, etc. Dr. Isom stated that their visit was in response to a request he made when he first came to the District. See...all you need to do is ask...and wait!

The Board went into closed session at 7:42 p.m. - and stayed...for three-and-a-half hours! When they came out, they took the following actions:

1. Accepted the resignation of Terri George as teacher at Emerson

2. Hired Helen Green as part-time TAP secretary

3. Hired Tammy Terry as part-time TAP case worker

4. Accepted the resignation of Jackie Phillips as Junior Class sponsor

5. Hired Elizabeth Vasquez as CJHS Scholar Bowl sponsor

6. Made an offer of employment to Catherine Scott as Special Education teacher at CHS pending acceptance of resignation from JAMP

The Board adjourned at 11:16 p.m.