• Add to "IX":
  3. CJSHS - Update on Fire Restoration
• Add to "XI":
  6. Approve or Disallow Graduation Request
  7. Beta Club Request
  8. Adopt In Vision Math Series

VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Done

VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - Done

IX. Informational

1. Academic Improvement Award - Cairo Jr/Sr High School (Since CJSHS gets beaten down so often, this item warrants its own "Special Edition" of CAT Tracks.)
2. High School Visual Art Workshops - Nancy Herbert - Superintendent Rogers reported on the "visiting artist" and the displays of Cairo School District student art work at SIU-C.
3. Update on CJSHS Fire Restoration - A handout of the work to be done was presented. (See below.)
4. Checks Deposited - District Account

   $191,328.68 - State Aid – 1st Payment – Dec.
   3,092.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
   66,665.00 - Title I Low Income
   1,333.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
   1,915.00 - Title VI Rural Ed.
   1,331.00 - Tech. Enhancing Ed.
   158.00 - Title V Innovative
   1,546.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
   2,252.04 - State Lunch
   5,676.00 - TAP Grant Payment
   17,559.48 - Federal Lunch
   10,022.25 - Federal Breakfast
   182,590.45 - State Aid- 2nd Payment - Dec.
   1,546.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
   281,714.82 - Real Estate Taxes - Alexander County
   50.00 - Rent - First Student Transit

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:22 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 8:16 p.m.

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Personnel employment, resignation, release, discipline, or compensation.
   a. Hire Teachers & Teacher Aides For After School Tutoring Program - Emerson School (Retroactive) - Motion made, seconded, and passed to hire "by list" - Gloria Wiggins, Angela Coleman, Tena Harrell, Sharon Neely, Natalie Thomas, Rovena Thomas, Shari Stone, Fay Oliver, Serina Nelson, Jannet Rose, and Pam Carlton.
2. Employ District Superintendent - Motion made, seconded, and passed to hire Dr. Leotis Swopes as Interim Superintendent for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year. (In the near future, the BOE will negotiate with Dr. Swopes about a multil-year contract as District Superintendent starting July 1, 2008.)
3. Authorize Supt. to file for "Interrupted Days" For Jan. 31, 2008 and Feb. 11, 2008 - Motion made, seconded, and passed. (Superintendent Rogers indicated that the District had exceeded its scheduled number of emergency days and that it would have to consider options (including "Act of God" days) regarding same at some time in the future.)
4. Approve Copier Contract - A motion was made, seconded, and passed to award the copier contract to Osborn, which will buy out the current contract held by IKON. (The District is currently paying $3100 per month; Osborne will provide new copiers at a cost of $2350 per month.)
5. Discuss/Review Information Regarding Recommendation For Expulsion - Motion made, seconded, and passed to expel student Reference #123-08 from February 26, 2008 until the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. Alternative schooling will be provided by the ROE - "Safe School Program".
6. Approve or Disallow Graduation Request - Tabled until the Superintendent can investigate.
7. Beta Club Trip Request - Tabled pending investigation of additional funding sources.
8. Adopt the Scott Foresman "In Vision Math" Series for Emerson and Bennett - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

XII. Old Business

XIII. Adjourn - Motion made, seconded, and passed at 8:25 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.

FOOTNOTE: The "Balance" for 1/31/08 was $317,852.47 and the "Balance Operating Funds" on that same date was $170,758.23.

Folks those are POSITIVE amounts..."In the Black". Folks that is taking into consideration paying off BOTH "Outstanding Short Term Debt" AND "Outstanding Long Term Debt"! Folks...that is damn good...especially for a "broke school district"!!!