CAT Tracks for April 22, 2004 FINANCIAL MEETING

On Wednesday, April 21, 2004, bargaining team members of ALL unions and the principals met with Superintendent Isom, two BOE members, and two of the FOP administrators...

FOP Administrator Jim Bales distributed financial packets to all attendees which documented the status of revenue and expenditures for Cairo School District Number One for the current year and (projected for) the next three. The handouts showed a district that has made progress, but is still in financial distress.

Jim Bales informed attendees that projections for the next three years were based upon an anticipated 2% increase in expenditures on salaries and benefits. (Superintendent Isom interjected that if the 2% increase level could not be achieved, then "additional RIFs" would be required.) Using the 2% figure, the projection is that by maintaining CURRENT STAFF LEVELS, the District will come close to breaking even for the next two years, while not doing quite as well in the third year. In a follow-up question, it was stated that ISBE would probably be comfortable with those projections and the District would continue to function.

Following the financial presentation, Superintendent Isom wanted to know if there were any comments or questions. A member of the CAT team inquired about the Superintendent's reference to "additional RIFs" (knowing that the District cannot operate next year with the RIFs already announced in March.) The Superintendent responded by pointing out that no RIFs had actually taken effect at this time - that although RIF notices have gone out, everyone is still currently employed and that the District financial projections presented by Jim Bales are based upon everyone being recalled. So...by using the term "additional RIFs", Superintendent Isom meant that some people already RIFed might not be hired back in order meet the 2% growth number. (There was no indication of when recalls might be made...or who was "on the bubble" to stay RIFed to meet economic projections.)

Superintendent Isom also floated a trial balloon of "pay freezes" if the District could not meet the 2% limit on the growth in expenditures...recognizing that some contracts were still in effect and that some unions were in negotiations.

The Superintendent closed the meeting by encouraging all parties to be creative...and that if there were further questions...that he and the FOP administrators were available to meet with any group.