Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
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CAT Tracks for March 9, 1998
RETREAT!!! |
Have negotiations gotten that bad?! Are we giving up?!
NO!!!
This issue of
CAT Tracks has nothing to do with negotiations, although
I will say a few words
on that subject at the end of this missive.
Region 2 of the Illinois Education Association (our region) has put together a
Spring Retreat to be held on Saturday, March 28, on the grounds of the Touch of
Nature Center at Giant City, Illinois. The day's activities begin with
registration (including coffee and donuts) from 8:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Following the "Welcome and Opening Remarks", there will be three training
sessions offered featuring a variety of topics designed to appeal to everyone's interests.
Lunch will be provided and the retreat will culminate with a social hour and
a NOT-TO-BE-MISSED Buffalo Tro for which Touch of Nature is famous!
This Spring Retreat is being offered for veterans and "newbies"!
Region 2 wants the "usual suspects" to have an opportunity to hear the
latest information concerning recent changes in teacher certification passed
as part of the increased-funding legislation on December 2, 1997. It also provides "vets"
an opportunity to learn about or review a variety of topics from knowledgeable
presenters.
However, Region 2 particularly wants to reach out to local IEA members who are either
new to the organization or who do NOT USUALLY PARTICIPATE. This is a
wonderful opportunity to learn what the IEA and the NEA are all about,
AND to have A LOT OF FUN doing so!
SO . . . WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO? I'm glad you asked! Fill out a
registration form and return it to Ron Newell (school mail is fine) by Thursday,
March 19, 1998. SOONER IS BETTER, so that Region 2 can finalize preparations. In fact,
TODAY would be great! You need to enclose/send $10 to help defray the costs of
materials and food. The Buffalo Tro is included in the price and a cash bar is
available beginning at 4:30 p.m. (As an incentive for more CAT's to become
involved and meet teachers with common concerns--and "war stories"--from
surrounding districts, the CAT will reimburse the $10 registration fee to any member
who attends the Spring Retreat and stays for the Buffalo Tro.)
Talk this up among your friends and colleagues! Get a group together!! Mark
your calendars and attend the Region 2 Spring Retreat of 1998!!! Make new
friends and mingle with "old" friends. Learn a little; enjoy a lot. I think you
will find it a refreshing and rejuvenating experience. Try it--you have nothing
to lose--except the winter-time blahs.
Again, send your completed registration form--with $10--as soon
as possible and leave the planning to Region 2.
As promised--a "footnote" on negotiations. The Cairo Board of Education held
a Special Meeting last Tuesday night. I addressed the Board during the "visitor
section". I told them that despite the CAT's demand to mediate and filing of an
"intent to strike notice", we were prepared to negotiate at any time. I told
them that it was time for them to get serious, sit down at the table, and negotiate
a successor agreement--that 9 and 1/2 months was TOO LONG! Without getting
too optimistic, I DID receive positive feed-back from several Board members.
They approached me individually, thanked me for attending the meeting, and
promised a response. On Wednesday, I received a follow-up letter from Dr.
Bonifield stating that the Board's team would meet with the CAT's team on the
following Monday or Tuesday evening. The CAT team has notified Dr.
Bonifield that we will meet with them on March 10th--tomorrow night!
We will, as always, keep you informed of developments.
