(At 5:58 p.m. the BOE members left the building to go out front and get their picture taken for the yearbook.)

I. Call To Order - 6:03

II. Roll Call - Coleman, Brown, Mayberry, Gooden, and Burris.

III. Examples of Excellence - It was Rose Gayle Pickett's night to shine. Principal Pickett informed the BOE of Bennett Elementary's recognition by ISBE as a "Spotlight School" which was also reported in today's edition of The Cairo Citizen. Ms. Pickett also announced the Bennett Elementary students had raised $1,100 for leukemia patients. She next introduced a student from her building who read a poem for the BOE and members of the audience. And, last but not least, another student gave a verbal presentation and demonstration of some motorized Lego's that the students had constructed.

IV. Recognition of Guests/Comments From Public And Employees - A parent asked to address the BOE in closed session about the high school. A grandparent asked to address the BOE in closed session about her grandson. Both requests were granted.

V. Approval of Previous Minutes - No comments. Motion made, seconded and passed.

1. Regular Minutes of February 19, 2009
2. Closed Minutes of February 19, 2009
3. Special Minutes of March 3, 2009
4. Closed Minutes of March 3, 2009

VI. Approval of Agendas - No changes. Motion made, seconded and passed.

• Regular Meeting
• Closed Meeting

VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Superintendent Swopes read a couple of the totals. There were no questions. Motion made, seconded and passed.

VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - No comments or questions. Motion made, seconded and passed.

IX. Informational

1. Illinois State Board of Education - Public School Recognition Committee - Superintendent Swopes told the BOE that there had been some special education issues raised over a review of IEPs. However, the District was found to be in compliance with the appropriate constructs.

2. Spotlight School Award - Bennett Elementary School - Already presented above, however, Superintendent Swopes added his praise of the students.

3. Coaching Vacancies - 2009-2010 - Superintendent Swopes indicated that he wants to start the 2009-2010 school year with all coaches in place. Notice has gone out advertising all positions with an application due date of April 1st. Superintendent Swopes stated that he was operating under the "assumption" that everyone relinquishes positions at the end of the year.

   Actually, that "assumption" has been contested by CAT since an opposite position was agreed upon by the CAT and former Superintendent Sam Harbin with the approval of the BOE at the April 21, 2005 meeting of the Board of Education. Namely, coaches and extra duty sponsors are supposed to "roll over"...to keep their positions unless released/fired for cause...a bad evaluation as coach/sponsor.

   CAT, in fact, had a grievance settled in its favor last year (carried over from the previous year.)

   Unfortunately the BOE has developed convenient amnesia. When CAT moved to improve their memory by requesting that they go back to THEIR tape of that meeting...to see that it supported the report provided in CAT Tracks on April 21, 2005, guess what happened? The tape...the tape that is under their control...disappeared!!! The only tape missing of all the tapes for all the years that they have kept tapes!!!

   And they tell us to trust them. Next thing they will be saying is..."I am not a crook!"

   And they wonder why THEY have no credibility with their employees...

4. Ten-Year Health/Life Safety Surveys - Superintendent Swopes reported to the BOE that the "Priority 1's" had been completed.

5. Thank You Letter From Mayor Childs - This was for the District's cooperation during the ice storm. At the prompting of a BOE member, Superintendent Swopes read the letter to the audience. (If CAT had been provided a copy, we would have gladly posted it on CAT Tracks.)

6. Staffing Information - 2009-2010 - Superintendent Swopes referred to a report that the Financial Advisers had prepared/provided on student-teacher ratio at the various levels. The report indicated that three teachers could be RIFed at the elementary level. However, Superintendent Swopes stated that he would NOT make such a recommendation because of his belief in lower class sizes and its impact on instruction.

   As far as the high school and junior high school...

   Superintendent Swopes indicated that there were some imbalances among classes...with some class very small. He indicated that sometimes that was reflective of the nature of the class. Superintendent Swopes repeated that he would NOT be recommending any RIFs this year. However, he expressed dismay that the ideal situation that currently existed at the secondary level - i.e. small classes - was not producing the desired result - i.e. high academic achievement. He indicated that in the coming year, the District needed to take a close look at the secondary level and find out "Why?" small classes were not producing the desired results...that maybe something else might have to be done.

7. Flight Change From California - Superintendent Swopes reported to the BOE that he had taken a trip to San Francisco last month. While there, he decided to take two vacation days, necessitating a change in his airline ticket. Therefore, he had written the District a personal check for $177 for the ticket-change penalty. (I can't even be "catty" here. All I can be is confused. This afternoon, I "did the math" on the various charges associated with the flight change in "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions". Being a former math teacher, I could handle that. However, as I look at this afternoon's post and the proffered personal check for $177...it just don't add up. Oh, well...must be that "new math" they talk about...the "fuzzy math". MEOW!)

8. Governing Board (JAMP) Meeting - (March 26, 2009) 6:00 P.M. - Grand Chain - Superintendent Swopes stated that he had been told that this meeting was a very important meeting...that he had been told that a representative of the Cairo BOE needed to be present. After some brief discussion, Mary Coleman volunteered to attend.

   Apparently there are some disgruntled administrators in other Districts that question the disparity in the cost of what they consider identical programs...Behavioral Disorder programs held at Grand Chain and Cairo. The Grand Chain program costs $18,000 and the Cairo program costs $25,000. Aggravating the situation is that Meridian has since pulled its students out of the program...increasing the cost to the remaining districts. Apparently all of this has cause JAMP to announce a heavy RIF of personnel.

   Superintendent Swopes indicated that it was his desire to pull out of JAMP also...establishing our own B.D. program. Two problems confront his desire...a suitable location to house the program and the ability to secure the services of a certified instructor.

9. March 24th - Channel 3 will have a report on the CJSHS Abraham Lincoln Museum under the auspices of Paula McKinnis. The program segment is called "Class Act".

10. A Cairo school bus was involved in an accident this week. While making a turn, a car driven by a 17-year-old student drove into the bus...under the bus. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

11. The District is going to have to pay $2,000 to restore the phone system at the Central Office. The ice storm burned out a computer chip.

12. The State Superintendent of Schools will be at Shawnee Community College on March 31st at 9 a.m.

13. Checks Deposited - District Account

    $200,052.61 - State Aid - 1st Payment - Jan.
    15,902.00 - Title II Teacher Quality
    200,052.61 - State Aid - 2nd Payment - Jan.
    9.85 - Forest Reserve
    15,712.50 - Shawnee Community College - Rent
    50,621.00 - Title I Low Income
    1,695.00 - Title VI Rural Education
    10,829.04 - Personal Property Replacement Tax
    50.00 - First Student Transit - Rent

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:37 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 7:56 p.m.

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Personnel employment, resignation, release, discipline, or compensation.
   a. Accept Resignation of Alice Regina Wilson Due to Retirement - Motion made, seconded and passed.
   b. Accept Resignation of Zena Madison as High School Cheerleading Sponsor and High School Yearbook Sponsor - Motion made, seconded and passed.
   c. Employ Tommy Ellis - High School Boys & Girls Track Coach - Motion made, seconded and passed.
   d. Employ Holly Harper - Assistant High School Boys & Girls Track Coach - Motion made, seconded and passed.
   
2. Approve Request For Maternity Leave for Guidance Counselor - Felicia Kennedy Morris - Motion made, seconded and passed.
   
3. Approve Board Policy Manual Updates - Motion made, seconded and passed.
4. Temporary Substitute Employee - - Motion made, seconded and passed to hire Ken Hamilton for counseling services at CJSHS at $210 per day.
5. Hold in abeyance the expulsion of a student discussed in closed session - Motion made, seconded and passed.

XII. Other - Superintendent Swopes informed the BOE that the CCEC building had damage to its roof evidently due to the deteriorating condition of the building over time...from steam. He told them that it would be necessary to "cut and paste" until such time that it is determined what the insurance company will pay.

XIII. Old Business