CAT Tracks for August 8, 2003 SPECIAL MEETING OF CAIRO FOP

The Cairo Financial Oversight Panel held a special meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 8th...

All three Panel members were "present", with Sam Harbin attending once again by telephone (from the hospital). Also in attendance were two of the FOP administrators/consultants and two ISBE representatives - one in person and one by phone. District representatives were Board President Joe Griggs, Superintendent Isom, and Director of Finance and Payroll Ilene Pierce.

The first order of business was a vote to go into closed session at 10:31 a.m. The Panel exited closed session at 11:34 a.m.

A motion was made and passed to accept the closed session minutes. The panel without discussion then voted to approve the personnel hiring recommendations made by Superintendent Isom (and approved by the Cairo BOE at its August 7th meeting). Finally, the Panel approved a liability insurance coverage policy on itself at an annual premium of $7,392 and a contract with its financial administrators/consultants covering the period of May 6, 2003 through June 30, 2003.

Next on the agenda was a "Report from Consultants Including the Status of the FY04 Budget". A handout was distributed providing the District's current financial status and projected revenues/expenditures. (This correspondent did not receive a copy, so please excuse the lack of specifics.) Bottomline: The FOP consultants have shaved a projected $700,000 off of the District's budget...turning last year's $500,000 deficit spending into a $200,000 surplus (to be applied towards reducing the District's existing indebtedness). The proposed budget for FY04 is scheduled to be placed on reading at the August 21st meeting of the Cairo BOE.

The next agenda item was "New/Other Business". There was none.

Prior to adjournment, the Panel asked District representatives if they had any questions or concerns. President Griggs raised the issue of inadequate District facilities...that having 7th and 8th Graders mixed in with 9-12th Graders was a bad situation...that "parents are unhappy." President Griggs said that now that the budget situation had been straightened out, a plan needs to be developed to solve the facilities problem. He alluded to the failed bond referendum for a new elementary school and the new feasibility study which will examine closing Emerson and Bennett and housing ALL students through 8th Grade at the (now closed) CJHS building.

The FOP members listened patiently, but seemed unmoved. They indicated that they understood that the current situation was not ideal, but that "if we don't get finances under control, there won't be any school!"

The meeting was adjourned at 12 noon.

POSTCRIPT: Just have to make a couple of comments... First, a reminder...since it never seems to get mentioned. The $500,000 deficit in revenue last year just "coincidentally" equals the $500,000 (in State Aid and federal funds) that the District threw away when it chose not to make up the 17 days missed by the strike...to punish teachers.

And secondly...I thought we closed the CJHS building because it was uninhabitable! Now a dancing school...in the future a mega-elementary building? Did I miss something here?

As usual, STAY TUNED...as the District churns!