BUT, first, the big/bad news...

A representative of the District's auditing firm was present, to report the results of the annual audit...and it was not good. She informed the BOE that she was NOT able to issue a report at this time...that the District's financial records were "not adequate" and "inconsistent".

The auditor suggested that the District hire a 3rd party with expertise in payroll and school financing. She indicated that she had contacted the ROE for help in finding such a person. In response, ROE has contacted some individuals, but the only one that she has heard from indicated that he/she was unavailable.

The auditor indicated that she had received an extension of 60 days to complete the 2004-05 audit - until mid-March. However, the bad news was that ISBE would NOT grant exception to a January 31 deadline for filing the District AFR - Annual Financial Report. It must be filed...but the necessary financial data "is not there" and "is not consistent". She said that, at this time, it was impossible to get a complete payroll summary for the year. She indicated that the District's Financial Administrators would try to assist in resolving the problems so that the AFR could be filed on time.

EDITORIAL OPINION: Well...can't say this comes as a great surprise!

How many years have we been complaining about errors in our paychecks? Remember CAT's popular bi-monthly refrain? "Check your check!"

(Incidentally, that is STILL the rule...ERRORS ARE STILL BEING MADE WITH EVERY PAYROLL!)

The good news...

They say that the first step in solving a problem is recognizing that, indeed, you have a problem. Hopefully, the auditor's "report" last night will serve that useful function. For YEARS, the District and this same auditing firm have been in denial. If an error WAS ever admitted, it was always the computer software or hardware. Yeah...well...we've always had another theory...GIGO.

We are not naive enough to think that last night's "audit" will immediately solve all problems, but hopefully it will be a very necessary beginning step in restoring the "good ol' days"...when we didn't even have to look at our paychecks...they were always right!

1. Regular Meeting
2. Closed Meeting

VI. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

VII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

VIII. Informational

1. School Support Team Meeting
   Re: Proposed "restructuring" for not meeting NCLB & State requirements for five years. Joint organizational meeting for Egyptian and Cairo to be held at the CCEC on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. The support team will meet three times between now and the end of the year.
2. City/County police support - Two officers for each home athletic event. Mr. Oliver will also assist.
3. Common Calendar Development - No meeting yet.
4. Garrison Building - All offers have fallen through. Will advertise sale of building.
5. Scoreboards at the High School - Meeting with Pepsi will be held.
6. Other
   -District-wide art show will be held on March 9 in the CCEC Gym
   -Received letter from the IL School Board Association & ROE inquiring as to whether Cairo BOE members would be more likely to attend meetings if they were held at the Grand Chain Lodge. Response - Yes
   -Football - Where do we go on this?
   -Cairo Scholar Bowl Team won a match held recently with Meridian
   -Carolyn Allen will take over homebound instruction of two students previously assigned to Linda Maborn.
   -Beta Club requesting approval for an overnight trip to Springfield on March 27/28.
   -Schedule a meeting for January 30 at 6 p.m. - Re: Football
7. Checks Deposited - District Account

   190,631.10 - State Aid - Nov. 2nd Payment
   15,566.00 - Title II Teacher Qua
   25,623.00 - Federal Lunch
   13,472.22 - Federal Breakfast
   57,489.00 - Title I Low Income
   53,236.40 - TAMES
   2,370.00 - Repair Reserve - Jan./06 - ROE
   4,740.00 - Rent - Cairo Jr. High Building - Jan./06 - ROE
   34,141.58 - Personal Property Replacement Tax
   7,424.41 - Community Learning Center Grant - SIDEZ
   50.00 - Rent - Laidlaw
   190,631.10 - State Aid - Dec. - 1st Payment
   2,502.99 - State Lunch
   4,403.00 - TAP Grant Payment
   4,403.00 - TAP Grant Payment
   2,484.00 - State Lunch
   6,184.00 - Tech. Enhancing Ed.
   1,049.63 - Spec. Ed. Orphanage
   14,252.94 - Federal Lunch
   7,935.05 - Federal Breakfast
   1,262.95 - Driver Education

IX. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education - Personnel matters were not actually voted on until AFTER closed session.

1. To submit an application for re-lamping Emerson, Bennett, and CECC with the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation - Continuing to work on the bidding, etc. No action at this time.
2. Adopt the attached list of Board Meeting dates for 2006 - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
3. Adopt the Science textbooks for intermediate grades as per staff recommendation. Motion made, seconded, and passed.
4. Adopt the 7th & 8th grade History Books as per faculty recommendation. Motion made, seconded, and passed.
5. Receive the 2004-2005 school year audit and make it a part of the public record - Not actually done as per previous discussion above.
6. Personnel - Skipped until after closed session.
   A. Resignation/Retirement
   1. Athletic Director

   B. Employment
   1. Athletic Director
   2. Part-time Security

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to go into closed session at 6:45 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 8:35 p.m.

The following recommendations were made, seconded, and approved:

• Accept the resignation of Larry Baldwin as Athletic Director.
• Accept the resignation of Curtis Meyers as CJSHS Counselor.
• Hire Rob Shepard as Athletic Director for the remainder of this school year.
• Hire Antonio Oliver for part-time security as needed for after-school activities.
• Approve the Beta Club request for an overnight trip to Springfield on March 27/28.
• Set Sunday, May 28, 2006 as the high school graduation date.
• Building inspection by ROE. (No motion made or vote taken - just "matter of record".
• Approve "Spectator Conduct" for athletic events.
• Approve bills and payroll.

XI. Old Business - None

XII. School Board Assn. - Superintendent Whitledge informed the BOE that they could receive individual subscriptions to the American School Board Journal if that was their desire. The consensus was favorable.

XIII. Adjourn - The BOE voted to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.

CLOSED SESSION IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE OR DISMISSAL OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES WHICH MAY BE OF A TEMPORARY CONFIDENTIAL NATURE, STUDENT DISCIPLINE, PLACEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, DISCUSSION OF LITIGATION PROBABLE, IMMINENT, FILED OR PENDING AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR RELATED ISSUES.