CAT Tracks for July 19, 2003

CAT Tracks for July 19, 2003

REGULAR JULY CAIRO BOE MEETING

The Cairo Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on July 17th...

Actually the meeting started at 6:25 p.m., delayed due to a dismissal hearing. More on that later... The meeting began with the usual approval of minutes, treasurer's report, and payment of bills/payroll.

R.I.P. CJHS ... LONG LIVE CJHS!

Seems that reports of the "passing" of the CJHS building may have been premature... The Cairo BOE received a recommendation from the superintendent (who contrary to previously announced vacation plans attended the meeting) to conduct a feasibility study to put Garrison, Emerson, and Bennett at the (old?) CJHS building. The superintendent indicated that the study would not cost the district anything, and so a motion to conduct the study was approved.

IN OTHER ACTION...

The BOE approved the following...

Replace some additional doors and hardware at CHS.

Egypti sponsor Betty Lane's (annual) request that her $1,000 stipend be donated to the Egypti. Although last year's request was "graciously" accepted, apparently the processing of same was overlooked! (Dang...ya can't even give money away these days!)

Renew contract with Delta Center for a counselor.

Change the district grading scale this year instead of next. (The "rational" for this is that it is not fair to hold Cairo students to a higher standard than other area schools - who reportedly are already on this "college" scale. Hmmm...just wondering how this action jives with the purported concern over the failure of Cairo students to meet and/or exceed state standards. Seems a little contradictory to me...but hey, I just work here!)

Make Government/Economics an 11th grade requirement THIS YEAR instead of waiting until next year. (The rationale for this is that Juniors are being held accountable for these topics on mandated state testing even though they do not take the classes until their Senior year. In the future, the U.S. History requirement is supposed to be changed to the Sophomore year to complete the transition.)

Early graduation requests by two students, pending consultation with the guidance counselor to review credits.

The BOE went into Closed Session at 7:15 p.m. and returned to Open Session at 8:25 p.m.
The BOE approved the following...

A letter of reprimand to the employee whose dismissal hearing was held at 5 p.m. (This letter was apparently the result of closed-door "negotiations" between the BOE and the employee and her IEA representative.)

Hire India Walker as a full-time nurse

Appoint Lornezo Nelson as asbestos manager

An amended contract for Constance Williams

Recall of Pam Carlton, Henrietta Martin, and Sharon Neely for Early Childhood

Recall and reassignment of Serina Nelson to Early Childhood

Offer Marsha Kern the Reading First coach position at Emerson

Offer Zena Madison the Reading First coach/coordinator position at Bennett

Reassignment of Larry Baldwin as full-time Dean of Students at CHS

The BOE closed the meeting with a discussion of the need to have a special meeting sometime before the beginning of school. However, no date was set.
The FOP is scheduled to have their regular meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 24th.

POSTSCRIPT: The information contained in the above report is again courtesy of De De O'Shea, as this correspondent was somewhere on I-55 between New Orleans and Cairo at the time. (The "editorial opinions" were completely mine.) Thank you, De De (and "Board Buddy" Ruth Bailey) for giving your time to keep curious CATs informed!