1. Regular Meeting
2. Closed Meeting

VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - And here is where the meeting got "testy". BOE member Brown was upset that he (and his fellow BOE members) had not received the Treasurer's Report and the District Bill Listing in his the packet received PRIOR to the meeting, commenting that he (and his fellow BOE members) did not receive the information until arriving for the meeting. BOE member Brown indicated that this gave him no time to review the information prior to being required to vote on same. Superintendent Rogers agreed with Mr. Brown that, indeed, the BOE members SHOULD receive the information earlier and that he had had "a serious meeting" with his office staff to try to insure that this would be rectified in the future. BOE member Brown was not satisfied with this assurance, commenting later (during the presentation by the District's auditors) that "I'm 'tired of improvements', I want results." Acting President Stubblefield tried to defuse the situation by asking the indulgence of the audience to allow the members of the BOE to review the information in question so that they might make an informed vote on same. Mr. Brown did NOT feel that this was a suitable compromise, but the consensus of the BOE was to do as Mr. Stubblefield had suggested. So, there was a brief "time out" while the BOE members reviewed the information. (During this time, BOE member Brown stated to Superintendent Rogers that he wanted to meet with him and receive a copy of the job descriptions of the various Central Office personnel.) Following the "time out", a motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the Treasurer's Report.

VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - Motion made, seconded, and passed (with BOE member Brown voting "no" on both the Treasurer's Report and the Bills/Payroll.)

(Editor's Note: We are including one page out of the bill listing for your edification...a substantial "deposit" in the District lawyers' account - i.e. "Robbins Schwartz Nicholas"...to the tune of $20,724.85! And...that does NOT include monies paid to (at least) two successful grievants. I'm not going to publicize the amounts due to the sensitive nature of such settlements. However, be it noted...the Association is on record with the District - BOTH the BOE and the FOP - that it will NOT take kindly to protestations of financial difficulty as long as they continue to spend huge sums of money fighting employees who had received nothing but excellent evaluations...at least prior to the coming of the administration immediately preceding the present administration! In short...If the District can see fit to spend THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on fighting a handful of employees, then the Association expects the District to be as generous in its treatment of its other (evidently favored) employees - i.e. the District is NOT taking any legal actions against the rest of us. Bottom line: If the District can spend over $100,000 in a year fighting or paying off a handful of employees, then we expect at least that amount to be placed on the table as their starting offer in contract negotiations! Hey...if you flaunt it, you must have it...despite protestations of poverty!!! The page in question is below...beneath the Treasurer's Report.)

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At this point in the meeting, Acting President Stubblefield asked if it were the consensus of the BOE members present to allow the auditors to make their report at this time...and that is, in fact, what happened.

Folks...no way am I going to try to "recapture" the essence of this meeting. In short, as is always the case, there were some deficiencies noted...particularly the failure to report properly (or in a timely fashion) $39,000 of interest on a $1 million plus CD. The auditor also noted that there had been significant implementation of corrections to deficiencies noted in previous audits. As indicated above, BOE member Brown was NOT satisfied that the District had still not resolved issues dating back over two years.

(Editor's Note: We heard the "software excuse" from the auditors tonight. I personally am tired of THAT excuse! We are blaming the "new software", but as noted in this meeting, the problems are NOT NEW...they go back YEARS! In fact, it seems to me that we were blaming software back then also! Looks like somebody messed up when they bought...keep buying...new software. But, those folks are gone...C'est la vie! That is all...)

When the auditors were finished with their presentation, Superintendent Rogers thanked them for their assistance...and they departed.

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IX. Informational

1. Place On Reading - Updates of Board Policy Manual - Superintendent Rogers indicated that this was a requirement prior to the BOE's adoption of updates...that the proposed changes had to be "on reading" for at least 30 days prior to adoption.
2. Area AYP - Regional Office of Education - Superintendent Rogers discussed a handout with the BOE members, suggesting that they not focus so much on trying to compare Cairo with other districts, but that they take note that the District was making improvements in both reading and math.
3. Back Flow - (This was one of the additions to the agenda specified by Acting President Stubblefield above.) - Evidently, the attendance centers are not in compliance with "back flow" regulations...measures that keep water from going backwards. Measures are in place to correct the problem, which will cost in the neighborhood of $14-15,000. Superintendent Rogers indicated that there was no action to be taken tonight, but wanted to give a "heads up".
4. Superintendent Rogers took this opportunity to inform the BOE that they needed to begin taking a hard look at what they were going to do next year...about the CCEC building and/or other buildings. He stressed that the ROE was pulling out of the CCEC in December...moving their offices to the First National Bank. This would further reduce the income and support of the CCEC building...making it a further financial burden upon the District. Superintendent Rogers indicated that he had struggled with this matter, feeling personally that the CCEC was his "favorite building" in the District. However, he indicated that the architect had indicated that the cost of bringing the building up to health and life safety standards would be much greater than the other buildings. Superintendent Rogers spelled out some possible options for the BOE to consider and indicated that there might be others that he had not mentioned. Bottom line...the BOE needed to start considering what they wanted to do...so that whatever "moves" could be done in a "slow" manner during the summer...done right. Superintendent Rogers further indicated that in preparation of a possible move, he would be asking the BOE to approve the installation of a $6,000 valve that would allow the heating of the north end of the building and shutting down the remainder of the building...so that they District would not incur the heating costs which occurred the last time the District tried shutting down the building while continuing to use the gymnasium.
5. Checks Deposited - District Account

   $191,328.68 - State Aid – 1st Payment – Sept.
   87,414.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
   9,789.70 - Idea Room/Board Sp.
   1,399.00 - Driver Education
   13,814.52 - Federal Lunch
   7,653.94 - Federal Breakfast
   191,328.68 - State Aid - 2nd Payment- Sept.
   25,955.76 - Federal Lunch
   14,889.28 - Federal Breakfast
   2,581.44 - P.I.L.O.T. (Housing Auth)- County Treasurer
   3,548.07 - Mobile Home Tax- County Treasurer
   380.94 - Mobile Home Tax- County Treasurer
   2,774.03 - Trustee Redemption Fund- County Treasurer
   16,811.19 - Trustee Redemption Fund-County Treasurer
   191,328.68 - State Aid - 1st Payment- Oct.
   18,372.00 - Reading Improvement
   3,830.00 - Title VI Rural Education
   10,952.00 - ADA-Safety Block Grant
   32,350.00 - Spec. Ed. Personnel
   21,050.00 - Spec. Ed. Transportation
   1,915.00 - Title VI Rural Education
   1,770.00 - Tech. Enhancing Education
   1,002.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
   438.00 - Title V – Innovative
   50.00 - Rent - First Student Transit

X. Closed Session - Acting President Stubblefield asked for a motion to go into closed session and read the "reasons" for doing so that appear at the bottom of this agenda. However, when he completed his reading, BOE member Brown asked to be recognized. Thereupon, Mr. Brown indicated his displeasure with the functioning of the BOE, especially in light of the fact that it would soon be negotiating contracts with all four employee unions in the District. Mr. Brown indicated that he felt that President Burris was at fault, reading a list of complaints. Mr. Brown then made a motion that Mr. Burris be removed at BOE President. Acting President Stubblefield expressed his discomfort that Mr. Burris was not present to defend himself against the charges brought by Mr. Brown, but that Mr. Brown's motion was in order and that he would entertain a second to the motion. When no second was forthcoming, Acting President Stubblefield asked for a motion to go into closed session (for the reasons already cited.) A motion was made, seconded, and passed to enter closed session at 7:32 p.m. (BOE member Brown left during closed session.) The BOE voted to exit closed session at 9:05 p.m.

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Approve grievance resolution - (Item added to closed session agenda by Acting President Stubblefield earlier in the meeting.) - Done. (It was not mentioned in open session, but the grievance in question was filed by the CAT on behalf of Tommy Ellis last year, concerning the District's failure to re-employ him as Head Track Coach. The matter was resolved in his favor PRIOR to an arbitration hearing scheduled for December.)
2. Personnel employment, resignation, release, discipline, or compensation.
   a. Motion made, seconded, and passed to employ Zach Shumacher as Assistant Boy's Basketball Coach for CHS.
   b. Motion made, seconded, and passed to employ Theodius Ross as Freshman/Sophomore Boy's Basketball Coach for CHS.
3. Accept Audit Report For Fiscal Year 2006-2007 - Done.
4. Approve Library Grant - (For CJSHS) - Done
5. Approve HSG to Install Valve to Heat North End of CCEC - Done.
6. Approve Copier Contract Extension - Superintendent Rogers indicated that he would recommend that the BOE NOT take action on this item...that it would be to the District's financial benefit to wait until closer to the expiration date of the lease.
7. Acting President Stubblefield indicated the need to have a Special BOE Meeting on Wednesday, November 28, 2007, for the purpose of discussing personnel issues and negotiations. A motion was made, seconded, and passed.

XII. Old Business - None

Superintendent Rogers acknowledged receipt of a thank you card from Ron Newell for the courtesy and respect shown by the BOE on the passing of his wife. (I took the opportunity of thanking the BOE in person.)

XIII. Adjourn - A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn at 9:11 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.