Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for February 14, 2009 SCHOOL STIMULUS UPDATE

Decided to make a return visit to the Committee for Education and Labor Website yesterday...to seek out changes made in education spending by the revised stimulus bill.

Well, news headlines had already warned that school construction had been removed from the package during its stay in the Senate. In fact, school construction funds did NOT return during the bills' journey through the House and Senate conference held this week to work out the differences.

So, Cairo "lost out" on that $1 million. (Keep in mind for future reference...Cairo never had the money in the first place...it was "on paper"...paper that CSD #1 officials never acknowledged in the first place. So, don't even go there!)

However, the good news is that new calculations indicate that Cairo STILL will receive a money injection of slightly over $1 million dollars over the next two years...$777,000 in 2009 and $230,000 in 2010.

You can see these numbers (and compare them to surrounding districts) by visiting the updated stimulus link. (Cairo is on "Page 6".) The old link that was provided in the January 27th edition of CAT Tracks is still operational if you wish to make before and after comparisons.

BOTTOM LINE: Cairo School District Number One, which has $2.5 million hoarded away in the First National Bank at 8th & Commercial in Cairo, IL is scheduled to receive a significant injection of new funds from the federal government.

I might add...

This new money...this STIMULUS MONEY...was created TO BE SPENT!!! It was NOT created to be squirreled away in banks, especially since banks have a lousy recent record of survival!

So, Cairo School District officials...do NOT spend the next days, weeks, and months trying to concoct some SPIN...like, maybe, how the district LOST $1 million and therefore teeters on the abyss of financial collapse.

The money was designed to retain educational resources...to recruit educational resources.

You have complained at the bargaining table about the widening COMPENSATION GAP between CSD #1 and surrounding districts...the difficulty of attracting new employees. You are seeing an increasing number of departures as our excellent, highly qualified employees, despite their desire to remain in Cairo, are forced to make the difficult decision to leave for "greener pastures"...pastures that allow them to support their families in the face of rising costs. (Even Social Security recognized this fact in January 2009 by granting its recipients pay increases of 5.8% as a COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment).

So, Cairo School District Number One officials...it's time to stop bargaining like you are waiting for the proverbial "Christmas". It you didn't notice...Christmas has done come and gone. We can't...WON'T...wait for next Christmas. It is time...way past time...to ungrasp those tight fists and show some appreciation for your hard-working, dedication employees.

On this Valentine's Day, open your hearts...to the spirit of the occasion.

Let us "feel the love"...

It's time to "spread the wealth around!"