Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for August 13, 2008 FOR...TEACHERS...STAFF

...a new beginning!

Cairo School District Number One "took its show on the road" today, chartering two air-conditioned buses to ferry employees to Shawnee Community College for the first institute of the 2008-09 School Year. (Movie selections were announced as "Stand and Deliver" and "The Great Debaters".)

Beginning at 7:45 a.m., a continental breakfast was served by (I guess) Shawnee Community College personnel...followed at noon by a buffet lunch. (Normally the District's food service - Chartwell's - does the honors, but when in Rome...)

Following the breakfast, employees were asked to assemble in the SCC Educational Center for opening remarks. Dr. Larry Peterson, President of Shawnee Community College, did the welcome, followed by the Regional Superintendent of Schools, Janet Ulrich. The Mayor of Cairo was scheduled to speak, but was not present...without comment. (This was ironic because when CAT was objecting to the out-of-town location for the first institute, we were "shamed" by the Superintendent's assertion that the Mayor was eager to speak and was NOT requesting mileage to travel to SCC.)

Finally, Cairo Superintendent Leotis D. Swopes took the podium and made his remarks. If I may be excused for "editorializing", I would describe the address using an economic term..."Guns and Butter". Dr. Swopes spoke of the intent of the scheduled workshops...to give teachers additional guns/weapons in their arsenal to better deliver an education to the students of CSD #1. The "butter" was in reference to a "buying a new refrigerator" analogy used by Dr. Swopes...indicating that after picking from the wide variety of available refrigerators (including those with a TV in the door), once you got the refrigerator home, you then faced the task of putting the contents into the new refrigerator....that when you went to put the butter into the "normal place"...that THAT space might not be there because of the new design. However, since the butter had to go into the refrigerator, you would find a new place to locate it...find a new way to use our old skills in the classroom. Superintendent Swopes, once again (this time for the benefit of the group), indicated that teachers were not giving their best (as evidenced by failing test scores)...that we needed to give up our old failing ways, use the new "guns" he was providing us, and find a new place to put the "butter". (If I have botched the analogy...I'm sorry...sincerely tried to avoid slanting or omitting.)

Interestingly, Dr. Swopes recalled being interviewed by the "FOP" - the Financial Oversight Panel, which must approve any and all money matters involving the District...including the approval of any contract offered to the superintendent. Dr. Swopes stated that he was "taken aback" by the questions that he was asked by the FOP...that their questions had "angered" him. According to Dr. Swopes, the FOP kept insisting that Cairo was different than any place he had previously served...and that the FOP was seemingly casting doubt upon his ability to serve as superintendent. (If I am mistaken, again, I'm sorry...I AM trying to get this right. Dr. Swopes made a remark about what his mother always told him in such situations, but I can't recall it.) Anyway, I think the point of Dr. Swopes citing his anger (and his mother's advice) was that he used that anger as motivation to succeed...to show the FOP that he WAS up for the job. (In THAT context, maybe that's why Dr. Swopes keeps pointing out the "failure" of his teaching staff. Maybe he wants to anger his employees...to goad them into action. That's a dangerous strategy for a new "CEO"...one that frequently fails in the real world. In another context, maybe it is that "anger" and the perceived slight by the FOP that explains why Dr. Swopes seems so determined to establish himself from "Day 1"...to prove that he is a "take charge kind of guy"...that he IS the boss. Another dangerous strategy...)

THEN came the "What's up with that?" moment...

Dr. Swopes called upon new CAT President De De O'Shea to speak. President O'Shea declined...finally, trying to cover an uncomfortable moment by making the comment that she would talk to the new teachers tomorrow.

Later, President O'Shea was questioned by several attendees..."Why didn't you speak?"

Well, being privy to what transpired beforehand, I can explain...

If you have been reading your CAT Tracks, then you are well aware that the Association objected to holding the first institute out of town. As the Association voiced its concerns, the response of the Superintendent was more and more adamant...the institute WOULD be at SCC and employees would NOT be paid mileage (CAT's attempt to force the institute back to Cairo). Thus, the two chartered buses!!!

After NOT consulting with the Association in advance about relocating the first day of school and THEN ignoring the Association's demand to bargain the decision and the impact, President O'Shea (with the concurrence of the CAT bargaining team) decided that she could NOT in good conscience accept Dr. Swopes' invitation to speak at the institute...to offer "honest and healthy support".

President O'Shea told Dr. Swopes (at the bargaining table) in clear terms that she did NOT wish to speak at the institute. Dr. Swopes acknowledged her decision.

After giving this "battle" its best shot, the Association decided it was time to take a step back...allow Dr. Swopes "to have his day." Accordingly, CAT has remained silent for the past week. The CAT has not "editorialized to heightened emotion, skewed facts or slanted by omissions." In short, the CAT bit its tongue...

Today's singling out of President O'Shea (the only leader of the District's four unions so acknowledged) by Dr. Swopes - after being told last week that she did NOT wish to speak - raises question as to motivation. It also flies in the face of an old saying...which for obvious reasons I shall paraphrase..."Let sleeping CATs lie!"

Not one to be shy, President O'Shea spoke privately with Dr. Swopes at the conclusion of his remarks. Dr. Swopes claimed that there was a misunderstanding...that he had been told by his secretary that President O'Shea DID want to speak. (No Comment)

At the conclusion of their discussion, Dr. Swopes indicated that he would apologize to the group at lunch...and make up for his omission to recognize the leaders of the other three unions. President O'Shea indicated that she did NOT want an apology...that THAT would just make matters worse...prolonging the incident and leading to more questions.

Well, being a curious (former) CAT, this reporter had to change his schedule! Having planned on leaving immediately after breakfast and beginning my official retirement period, I had to come back and see what happened at lunch.

"True to his word" (and contrary to the expressed wishes of the CAT President), Dr. Swopes prefaced lunch by announcing his apology...and asking whether any of the other union leaders wanted to speak. (None did, of course. Our union leaders are smart enough not to stand between hungry employees and lunch!!!)

So, AGAIN..."What's up with this?"

Hopefully, now that we have gotten through this rough beginning to a new school year...and the Superintendent has gotten his way, we shall be able to put this behind us and get on with business. This incident has already taken time away from contract negotiations and changed the tone of negotiations. What had been a collaborative effort has now fallen, once again, under the shadow of confrontation.

Will the coming year be "a new beginning", or a return to the "bad ol'days"?

Stay tuned...

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