CAT Tracks for February 22, 2004 REGULAR MEETING OF CAIRO BOE

We evidently missed a good one. I say "we" because this report is based on notes taken by a conscientious CAT who "covered" for my absence due to a personal commitment...

The meeting was called to order at 6:04 p.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2004. Board members in attendance were Griggs, Jones, Posey, Mallory, and Huff. "Substituting" for Board Secretary Brenda Gooden was Ilene Pierce. (Now that's a new twist! Normally, another Board member is named Secretary Pro Tem for the meeting...for FREE. I mean, they are already paying for a recording secretary! If anything, couldn't the (already-paid) recording secretary have served as substitute?! Oh, well. It's only money! Uh, more on money later...)

Regular and closed minutes were approved without change, as was the Treasurer's Report.

HOT, HOT, HOT ...

Next up..."Bills & Payroll". Well, now, here was an item of interest...and discussion. Seems that the gas bill for (the closed) Cairo Junior High School building was $6063.81. (To put that figure in proper perspective, the gas bill for Emerson Elementary was $1233.60, for Bennett Elementary $2977.04, and for CJSHS $5880.59. To be fair, the electric bill for Emerson Elementary was $1949.04, for Bennett Elementary $1513.67, and CJSHS $5751.94, whereas, for the closed Cairo Junior High School building, it was only $484.83.) If I'm not mistaken, last year...when the CJHS building was open...the gas bill only ran around $2000 a month! Things that make you go hmmmmm... Following their discussion/speculation of the reason(s) for the high gas bill, the BOE voted to pay bills and approve payroll.

Superintendent Isom reported on the projected JAMP budget. He also indicated that the District was going to receive a refund of $5115 on worker's comp funds for the 2002-03 School Year.

Moving on to "Buildings and Grounds"...Superintendent Isom reported that the District had received a bid from Cairo Window and Siding for $17,847.16 to board up the windows at the CJHS building. (Well...maybe that would reduce the gas bill...or contain the heat and blow the roof off the sucker... I'm sorry...just being CATty!) After some discussion and a motion to accept the bid...which was the lowest of three...the motion was withdrawn and the matter tabled.

Then came a discussion on re-opening the CJHS building in the future...to consolidate the two elementary buildings and the District Office. That also was tabled...

The building principals then gave their reports...except for Allene Houston, who was sick. Bennett Elementary's enrollment was reported at 243 and CJSHS at 302 - 109 in 7th & 8th and 193 in 9th through 12th.

In related business, a tentative "last day of school" (contingent on any further use of emergency days) was identified as May 25th, with high school graduation to be conducted on May 23rd. (If only this would have happened last year...sure would have saved Carl Riley some grief...and the District some legal fees!) Also, Superintendent Isom reported that he had received a letter from (BOE Member) Brenda Gooden expressing concern over the elimination of "exploratory classes" (Art, Band, and Computers) for 7th & 8th Grade students. (Can I get another "hmmmm..."?)

Superintendent Isom also reported that the District and OCR (the Office of Civil Rights) had reached a "resolution agreement". He then identified dates that he would be out of the office through the next BOE meeting.

Things got interesting during "Suggestions and/or Questions (Patrons, Employees)". A member of the public was recognized and he proceeded to take the BOE to task for it money management (focusing on the CJHS building) and inquiring on the use of money generated by the CHS basketball team. The BOE tried to head off discussion of the issues by directing the concerned citizen to put his complaints in writing and to present them to the Superintendent. I think it fair to say that this was not received in a positive manner.

The BOE then voted to go into closed session at 7:45 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 9:25 p.m.

DAMNED AND DETERMINED...

Although the District fought and lost an Unfair Labor Practice charge filed by the CAESP secretarial union, with its attendant legal fees, they voted to do it again...supposedly doing it in the "proper" manner...learning from their past mistakes. In a typical act of defiance, the BOE voted to do this even before posting the adverse decision by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board...a posting that is required by statute. Oh, well. It's only money...and the law!

Further action by the BOE upon recommendation by the Superintendent:

* Accept the resignation of Tena Harrell as Parent Educator (since she was previously hired to fill a new Kindergarten position.)

* Accept Lorraine Johnson's resignation as teacher assistant.

* Offer Leatha Holder the vacated position of Parent Educator

* Hire Dennis Willis retroactively as security aide at CJSHS

* Hire Allene Houston, Rose Gayle Pickett, and Constance Williams as District Administrators for the 2004-05 School Year.

* Accept CAESP overtime settlement

* Authorize proposed settlement with Martin Roofing Company for not more than $22,000 + interest (for gassing everyone "up at the high school" a few years back! Oops...guess I'm being CATty again. But, hey, we can pay the perpetrators, but deny claims by the victims??? Oh, well. It's only money...and human lives!)

* Schedule a special BOE meeting for March 10 - Personnel Matters - i.e. RIFs...speaking of human lives!!!

Board Member Posey inquired about the installation of dishwashers at the three attendance centers. Maintenance Supervisor Lorenzo Nelson gave a progress report.

The Board voted to adjourn at 9:50 p.m.

In a final flurry of activity, the concerned citizen who was asked to put his complaints in writing and present them to the Superintendent approached the BOE and presented them a letter and offered comments concerning accountability.