Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter



CAT Tracks for September 18, 2008
FLY ME TO THE MOON...

Okay, okay...to HOTLANTA!

The "moon" was just the beginning of my "editorializing to heighten emotion."

And speaking of emotion...

DAMN...$3,182.30 for a freaking conference in Atlanta!!! How the hell does Cairo School District Number One benefit from that???

Okay, DEEP BREATH...

Before I say more, it's only fair to give you some particulars...

The page below is from the CSD #1 "Accounts Payable List" that goes out to BOE members every month. You will see that some items have been "ticked off" (pun intended...a much cleaner version of my actual reaction when I first observed this page!) They are the items beginning in the middle of the page with little "dashes" in front of them...

Wondered what NABSE was...Googled it...found out. It's the National Alliance of Black School Educators, which is having its 36th Annual Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, from November 18th to November 23rd. (Want to know more...want to go??? Here's a link to the registration packet! WARNING: Unlike the attendee(s?) on the list above, YOU will have to pay your own way...with the "shorted" paycheck that you received on September 15th!)

One thing that just crossed my mind...I thought this was the time of year that the Superintendent and the BOE members went to Chicago??? Just a minute, let me look that up...

Don'tcha just love computers and Google???

YEP...I was right! (Bet they hate it when that happens!!!) The Illinois Association of School Boards: 2008 Joint Annual Conference is scheduled for November 21-23 in Chicago. Of course, if you had a choice between going to a conference in your "home town" of Chicago (where you normally return to on weekends after roughing it at the rent-free, utilities-paid "Cairo Cottage" during the week) OR flying off to "Hotlanta" for a looong weekend, which would you do???

And...I mean...what could you possibly learn at a meeting of "more than 12,000 Illinois school leaders and guests" in Chicago, ILLINOIS, that would help you in Cairo School District Number One??? (Dripping sarcasm intended...)

I could go on, but I think you can take it from here...

AND...I haven't even said anything about the "National School Board Association 69th Annual Conference - San Diego - April 4-7, 2009" that was on the BOE Agenda for tonight!!!

Can I get another "DAMN" for that (or an "AMEN" from the more genteel among you?)

THEY can gallivant about the country...enjoying the good life, while denying YOU the "step raise" that was "guaranteed" by your contract so that you would have had a few extra dollars to pay for the high-priced gas required to drive to freaking work!!!

To borrow the political vernacular going around right now...THEY just don't get it!!!

I'll close this missive with a "contractual" comment...

The BOE Bargaining Team came to the table looking for "give backs" on sick days, personal days, and even professional days. On professional days, the BOE Team finally relented, but they insisted on the addition of one sentence:

    "Teachers may be called upon to transfer knowledge attained during professional leave to faculty & staff, at a teacher's meeting or in-service of the Superintendent's choosing; within 40 days of completion of said leave."

Wonder if CAT should ask for a report of "knowledge attained" from the party or parties that use our tax dollars to fly to Atlanta, San Diego, and whatever other exotic destination next strikes their fancy???

On second thought...forgetaboutit! No need to add insult to injury...