1. Regular Meeting
2. Closed Meeting

VI. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Motion made...and then things got dicey! Newly appointed BOE member Vernon Stubblefield inquired as to why there was no review of the Treasurer's Report and bills...as had been done in the past. This prompted a "spirited" exchange between BOE member Danny Brown and BOE President Joe Griggs and Superintendent Gary Whitledge. Finally, the motion was seconded and passed.

VII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - The smoke from above erupted into a blaze during questions about the bills. Some BOE members were disatisfied with the Superintendent's response to questions...namely that he would be happy to research any questions that they raised and would report back to them later with specifics. The BOE members felt that they served as "stewards" of the public's money and deserved specifics before being asked to approve expenditures. Eventually, a motion was made, seconded, and approved to pay bills and payroll.

VIII. Informational

1. Black Diamond Conference - Superintendent Whitledge stated that the Black Diamond Conference was to meet next week and that Cairo's continued membership in the Conference was "looking bad"...that the future was "ominous". The Conference was concerned about both the "participation level" (since Cairo dropped football) and safety issues. Superintendent Whitledge stressed the impact on Cairo's scheduling of athletic events if it were expelled from the Conference. A couple of BOE members expressed their displeasure with the Conference...stating that member schools did not complain about Cairo when they repeatedly scheduled us for their football homecomings. The race issue was also raised...that quite possibly Cairo was the only predominantly black school in the Conference...and that maybe legal action ought to be taken if expulsion actually takes place. Superintendent Whitledge also informed the BOE members that the Meridian Board of Education was also meeting next week and that they might too vote not to play Cairo in the future.
2. Illinois High School Assn. - Sorry...did not hear anything about this...if there was anything.
3. 21st Century - Grant was submitted this afternoon at 4:18 p.m.
4. Drug Testing - Reported to be a success. Question: Did BOE have any suggestions for modifications?
5. Building Repairs - Ceiling back in at Bennett Elementary following the mold clean-up.
6. ISAT Testing Update - On-going.
7. Common Calendar - Superintendent Whitledge reported that representatives of the four school districts in Alexander and Pulaski Counties once again met and drew up a common calendar so that they could conduct joint projects. However, he indicated that he hadn't put it together yet...that it would be ready for the next BOE meeting. (The only specific mention was about seeking a waiver on Lincoln's Birthday in favor of Presidents' Day.)
8. Still do not have an audit for last year. Superintendent Whitledge suggested that the BOE seek a new auditor...that the current auditor group was competent, but that not having a completed audit by this time of year was "way too late."
9. It is time to consider bidding out lawn services for the coming year. Superintendent Whitledge expressed satisfaction with the services rendered by last year's provider...except that they quit sooner than he thought they should have. The Superintendent wanted to know "the pleasure" of the BOE in bidding the services.
10. ISBE will be sending a Special Education monitoring team into the District on April 17, 18, and 19. The District has already been found to be "not in compliance"...too much isolation of Special Education students...a need for more inclusion.
11. The Alexander County Sheriff has informed the District that it will not get a school resource officer for the remainder of this year...and that Egyptian will lose theirs. The reason given is that the grant money has run out. Several BOE members questioned that rationale...that the money had been there...so what happened to it? They advised the Superintendent to make inquiry on their behalf.

12. Checks Deposited - District Account

    $191,328.68 - State Aid - 1st Payment - Jan.
    3,135.00 - Title VI Rural Education
    1,495.00 - Tech Enhancing Education
    4,400.00 - Title I Low Income
    4,137.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
    15,162.00 - Title II Teacher Quality
    941.00 - Title V - Innovative
    5,182.00 - TAP Grant Payment
    34,619.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
    1,550.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
    1,579.98 - State Lunch
    1,579.98 - State Lunch
    191,328.69 - State Aid - 2nd Payment - Jan.
    127.21 - Forest Reserve
    20,277.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
    4,795.21 - TAMES
    50.00 - Rent - Laidlaw

IX. Public Hearing - The BOE voted at 6:46 p.m. to go into "Public Hearing" for the purpose of receiving evidence to bar an individual from CJSHS. Several individuals gave testimony and written testimony of others was read into the record. The BOE voted to end the "Public Hearing" at 7:08 p.m.

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 7:10 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 9:17 p.m.

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education - Superintendent Whitledge made the following recommendations for BOE action:

1. Declare surplus property and advertise for sale - Not mentioned.
2. Action on Resolution to Bar from School premises - Motion made, seconded, and passed to bar a parent from CJSHS for one calendar year, with the exception noted that she could attend the graduation of her children.
3. Action regarding Closed Minutes for calendar year 2005 - Motion made, seconded, and passed to keep the Closed Minutes closed.
4. Personnel employment, compensation, retirement, discipline, termination, resignation, reduction in force.
   a. Eliminate the position of Coordinator of Student Services - Not mentioned.
   b. Reduction in Force Notification - Not mentioned. (In a previous conversation with the Superintendent, there was an indication that CAT bargaining unit positions would not be affected by this item.)
   c. Motion made, seconded, and passed to grant Tasha Blake a leave of absence for one week beginning on March 20th.
   d. Motion made, seconded, and passed to grant Rachel Harrell a leave of absence for six weeks...from April 16th to June 1st.
   e. Motion made, seconded, and passed to employ Vanessa Galian (?) as Federal Grants Secretary.
   f. Motion made, seconded, and passed to accept retirement/resignation of Ruth Bailey and to send note of appreciation for service.
   g. Motion made, seconded, and passed to accept retirement/resignation of Charlotte Arington and to send note of appreciation for service.
   h. Motion made, seconded, and passed to accept the resignation of the Superintendent effective June 30th.
   i. Motion made, seconded, and passed to advertise for an Assistant Baseball Coach.
5. Superintendent's Contract - Not mentioned...became moot with previous action.
6. Administrative Assignments - Not mentioned.
7. Other

XII. Old Business

XIII. School Board Assn.

XIV. Adjourn...At approximately 9:25 p.m., a motion was made, seconded, and passed to reconvene this meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 19, 2007.

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.