Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter
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CAT Tracks for May 19, 2009
REGULAR BOE MEETING - MINUTES |
The Cairo Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2009. Below is an annotated agenda to serve as minutes...
CAIRO BOARD OF EDUCATION
CAIRO SCHOOL DISTRICT NUMBER ONE
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009
6:00 P.M.
AGENDA
I. Call to Order - Well, it was supposed to be 6:00 p.m., but it turned out to be 7:09 p.m.
You mean to tell me that you dummies sat there for over an hour waiting on a fourth for bridge, er, a fourth for a quorum?
Just be careful who you go callin' a dummy!
No...it was a night out for Cairo's "high brows"...a treat for the elite!
Since only three BOE members were present at 6:15 p.m., a decision was made to that we would fast forward to Agenda Item III...Examples of Excellence. Waiting in the wings...just happening to be in the neighborhood was a string quartet from the John Thomas School of Music in Carbondale. (Okay, they didn't just happen to be in the neighborhood...it was a planned event for tonight's meeting of the Cairo Board of Education. (A real shame that rather than being showcased, the musicians had to play "stand up" while awaiting a quorum.)
Anyway...on cue, 14 members of the John Thomas School came marching into the room carrying their instruments of choice...violins. Fourteen 2nd and 3rd graders primed to entertain.
And, entertain they did.
The little darlings, under the leadership of "Miss Paula" played their little hearts out for 20 minutes...to the enjoyment of those present.
When they completed their routine, they were escorted out of the room, followed by their entourage...minus Principal of Carbondale Elementary Dr. Flowers, Miss Paula, and (I believe) Dr. Clark from SIU-C. Then came the sales pitch...how the program inspires children to change their attitudes for the better (if I can play the violin, by golly, I can do math) and soothes the savage breast (improving discipline). (I hope that my last line doesn't jeopardize the new rating system for BOE meetings. This meeting - fortunately for the 2nd and 3rd grade students present - was a solid "G".)
The "shilling" took another 15 minutes. (Hey, who could complain? We still didn't have our fourth BOE member, so we could NOT get on with the business of the night.)
With the exit of the musical trio...without the fourth BOE member...we brought on Act II...the presenting of a plaque by Superintendent Swopes to former BOE member Bobby Mayberry to honor his two years of service to Cairo School District Number One. (Again, it's a shame that such an event transpired in the absence of a regular BOE meeting. I guess CATs should not take their shabby treatment too personally when the same treatment is meted out to one of their own.)
Presiding officer Mary Coleman then announced at 6:54 p.m. that we would take a six minute break while awaiting an expected BOE member.
Fourteen minutes later, ta da...a quorum arrives!
So...
I. Call to Order - 7:09 p.m. (The extra minute was a delay to allow the applause the die down from the arrival of the quorum. (Okay, that was totally catty...but true.)
II. Roll Call - Charlene Vaughn, Artie McBride, Brenda Gooden, Mary Coleman. (In the absence of President Burris and Vice President Stubblefield, BOE Treasurer assumed the role of presiding officer.
If you didn't notice...
LADIES NIGHT!
I mentioned in last month's CAT Tracks that the recent BOE election has produced an historic event...that women constituted a majority of the Cairo Board of Education. TONIGHT...they were the only ones in attendance! Possibly for the first time, a woman served as presiding officer. (Brenda Gooden has served on the BOE for many years and may have had occasion to serve in this position, but I don't remember it. I stand to be corrected...)
III. Examples of Excellence - Okay...out of necessity, this item was moved up to "Pre-I"...our string quartet (times 3.5).
IV. Recognition of Guests/Comments From Public And Employees - Valerie Hall rose from her position at the table as recording secretary and asked to speak with the BOE in closed session...which was granted. Tommy Ellis then rose from the audience and told the BOE that he had three items that he needed to discuss...one of which needed to be in closed session (which was also granted by the BOE.) Prior to sitting down, Mr. Ellis informed the BOE of his dissatisfaction with its decision to get rid of the bleachers and light standards from the old football field which could have had other application for District sports - e.g. track.
V. Approval of Previous Minutes - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
VI. Approval of Agendas - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
IX. Informational
$ 200,052.61 - State Aid - 1st Payment - March
X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 7:18 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 8:41 p.m.
XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education
XII. Other - None.
XIII. Old Business - None.
XIV. Adjourn - Motion made, seconded, and passed to adjourn at 8:49 p.m.
1,474.47 - Driver Education
1,695.00 - Title VI - Rural Education
22,500.00 - Sale of Football Field Items: Grandstands, 6 Light Poles & Standards, Exterior Fence Around Field & Scoreboard
52,199.36 - Personal Property Replacement Tax
1,481.95 - Student Lunches (2 Months) - ROE
6,250.00 - JAMP - Rent-Cairo Community Education Center
7,856.25 - Shawnee Community College - Lease Payment
200,052.61 - General State Aid - April
24,197.05 - Federal Lunch
13,116.28 - Federal Breakfast
32,275.10 - Special Education Personnel
13,087.93 - Special Education Transportation
587.00 - Tech. Enhancing Education
186.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
39,894.63 - Regular Transportation
700.00 - Remainder of funds from Laura Bush Foundation Grant - Paula McKinnis - CJSHS
50.00 - First Student Transit - Rent
9,300.00 - TAP Grant Payment
28,377.72 - Special Education Extraordinary
30,612.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
9,667.80 - ADA Safety Block Grant
23,050.00 - Reading Improvement
1,695.00 - Title VI Rural Education
61,533.00 - Title I Low Income
713.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
15,902.00 - Title II Teacher Quality
50,907.10 - Personal Property Replacement Tax
6,535.64 - Impact Aid
200,052.61 - ARRA General State Aid
1,769.30 - State Lunch
2,091.42 - State Lunch
2,223.98 - State Lunch
1,871.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
1,350.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
a. Re-Hire Non-Certified Employees Per Attached List - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
b. Hire Secretary (11 Months) Cairo Jr/Sr High School - Skipped.
c. Accept Resignation of Penelope Farris Due To Retirement - Motion made, seconded, and passed.
With adjournment, Madam CAT President and one ornery, old, retired CAT left the building. We entered our vehicles and Madam President peeled rubber seeking relief after a day of teaching, a CAT Team meeting after school, and a 3-hour BOE meeting. The ornery, old and slow, retired CAT didn't make it to safety. As he was pulling away from the building, his new improved ears did hear a whistle. Looking back, I observed one coach (I mean, who else whistles like that?)...the was waving for me to come back. I obediently pulled over to the curb and got out of my vehicle. That is when I observed one of the BOE members walking down the sidewalk toward me. As I approached her, she informed me that the BOE needed to go back into session. I told her that I would be right there...parked the car...and re-entered the building.
At 8:57, a motion was made, seconded and passed to reconvene the BOE meeting.
A new roll call documented the presence of the same four BOE meetings.
Superintendent Swopes then began the process of reading off extensive lists of names...personnel to be hired that had been overlooked previously...including certified personnel at CJSHS, Emerson and Bennett summer school employees, and CJSHS coaching positions. (Following the second adjournment, the BOE and Superintendent were kind enough to give me copies of the hiring lists. They appear below...)
The BOE voted to adjourn the reconvened meeting at 9:03 p.m.
Oh, what a night...
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.
Hee, hee, hee...
Due to circumstances beyond my control (an inside joke), a copy of the monthly payment to the BOE's attorney in charge of negotiations is unavailable for publication. You've surely seen enough proof over the past year to accept the following information without batting an eye. Namely, the BOE's "negotiations attorney" racked up $9,081.46...for two meetings. (YOUR expletive duly noted!)
Speaking of expletives...
By posting the agenda for BOE meetings, CAT very likely incurs some legal liability for those "enticed" by said agendas into attending the meetings. Accordingly, CAT is (with this edition) launching a rating system for those entertaining thoughts of attending BOE meetings - both Regular and Special.
So as not to confuse the public, CAT has decided to pattern its rating system after the ones used by the movie and television industry.
Now this is NOT as simple as you may think. Keep in mind that the aforementioned industries have the distinct advantage of being able to screen the final product before imposing its rating...or to employ a "bleeper" for live presentations. CAT, on the other hand, must issue its rating PRIOR to the meeting and sits helplessly in the "cheep seats" with no recourse but to listen to whatever vulgarities might ensue.
WARNING: With the "swearing in" of the new BOE members and the "swearing" of" one of the incumbent BOE members, who knows what Thursday night's BOE meeting may bring.
Due to what transpired at the last BOE meeting, CAT is imposing a rating of "PG" on the May 21st BOE meeting - "Parental Guidance" because of "Language". Should the "F-Bomb" be detonated once again, CAT will be forced to raise the threat level to "PG-13" for a minimum 6-month period.
One more thought on BOE ratings...
If there is a "wardrobe malfunction", CAT will drop the rating system and sell tickets!
DISCLAIMER: A figurative "showing of one's butt" does NOT count...CAT has seen more than enough of that over the years!!!
