In short, it was a year that demonstrated that there COULD be cooperation and collaboration IF both sides were willing to put aside past differences and work together in identifying the problems facing the District and finding common solutions.

Unfortunately, recent events are causing great concern...

This year has seen the rise of perfunctory employee suspension and threats of termination, something that just did not occur in the past - unless employed against a high-profile union leader or a stubborn administrator. This year, employees with previously unblemished records are being subjected to unrelenting attacks that are spiraling out of control.

It can be hoped that this is an aberration - and that it will stop just as suddenly as it began. However, events of the past couple of weeks would indicate that just the opposite is true - that not only is it here, it is here to stay!

During the past year or so, I have gone out of my way to publicly praise the administration of Cairo School District Number One...because it was richly deserved. There WAS "a significant difference"! However, during the past few months, I have had to bite my tongue on more than one occasion, allowing suspicious actions to pass without mention...hoping that these actions would prove to be simply rough edges during a time of transition. Unfortunately, these "rough edges" are now coming with increased frequency and escalating severity, leading to speculation that this may be the new "management style".

Whatever the reality, I would be negligent in my duty as Association president if I did not bring these changing circumstances to your attention...in a "foretold is forewarned" frame of mind.

To provide some specificity to this warning and to clearly indicate the seriousness of this situation, I offer the following example from this past week:

A teacher found that he would have to be one hour late on Monday. After attempting to call the "designated person" and finding that the number that he had was incorrect, he called another office employee - an individual who had been the "designated person" last year - and left the message. As a back up, the teacher also called me.

Upon my arrival at school Monday morning, I made innocent inquiry as to whether the message had been received. This act on my part set into action a chain of events that led to a letter of reprimand issued to the teacher at the end of his work day on Friday...a letter of reprimand that included a threat of dismissal if this "offense" were repeated!

Folks...watch your backs...and watch your co-workers backs!

If a person can be fired because he calls the "wrong person" in the office to report a late arrival...something that MANY of us (including myself) have done in the past due to various circumstances...then think what can happen if you actually do something wrong!

(While we are on this subject, the Association would be interested in knowing how many of you HAVE called someone other than the "designated person" to report absence or tardiness. Please notify your Association representative. Due to the current "atmosphere", we will NOT disclose your name without your permission.)

I take no pleasure in writing this negative edition of CAT Tracks, and sincerely hope that things will calm down...SOON...so that ALL of us - employees and administration - may once again focus on the very real problems that we face in Cairo School District Number One. Our "history" gives ample evidence that creating labor-management discord simply places distracting stress upon employees and drains the District's financial resources.

(After having a quiet "legal" year, the District is back into full lawyer mode. When I totaled up the bills for legal services a while back, the District was on a pace to spend $150,000 this fiscal year! This when Cairo School District Number One is under the directorship of a Financial Oversight Panel because it "went broke" after the strike of 2002! This when the District is publicly bemoaning declining enrollment and a loss of state aid!)

So...AGAIN...be on the alert! Be aware that routine behavior - acceptable in the past - can now result in a letter of reprimand and threat of the "death penalty".