CAT Tracks for November 24, 2009 REGULAR FOP MEETING

I shall not rant...I shall not rant...I shall not rant...

I mean...what's the point?

It came as no surprise...

Despite months of posturing to the contrary - including the issuance of "Directive Number 10-01" - it was obvious to even the most casual observer...they (aka the Cairo Financial Oversight Panel...the FOP) won't say "NO", not really.

I shall not rant...I shall not rant...I shall not rant!

Moving right along...

After canceling their regular monthly meeting in October, holding a special planning meeting on November 16th in Carbondale, the Cairo Financial Oversight Panel (FOP) held its regular November meeting on Monday, November 23, 2009, at 10:45 a.m. here in beautiful mid-town Cairo.

Couple of items of interest...

• Revelation of the job description for a "new" administrative position in Cairo School District Number One...the evolving job description (unavailable to the audience) adopted by the Cairo Board of Education at its November 17th meeting:

  

  

  Among the documents available at Monday's FOP Meeting (they DO tend to be a lot more "open" in their meetings than the Cairo BOE) was the further revelation that the salary for the "new" Curriculum Instructional Specialist/Coach position is $50,000 annually.

  Bears repeating...I shall not rant!

  Moving right along...

• How 'bout this little tidbit...the closed meeting minutes from the November 16th special planning meeting held by the FOP in Carbondale, IL:

  

  Specifically...Dr. Swopes' update on "possible future use of District facilities"...the purchase of "mobile units" and relocation of the pre-school program to the Cairo Jr./Sr. High School site. Gonna take the itty-bitty kids and put them "up at the high school"?

  A review of the minutes makes it clear that this move was a prerequisite for closing the Bennett Elementary School building...making rooms availabe to house the homeless.

  Hmmm...I'm no rocket scientist, but...

  Without debating the merits of buying "relocatables" to house the pre-school students, closing the Bennett Elementary building, and moving Bennett students to Emerson Elementary...why the hell would you place the "mobile units" at CJSHS? Last time I looked, there was a huge field behind Emerson Elementary...where the pre-school students currently reside! Why relocate the itty-bitty kids to the land of metal detectors and security guards?

  NOTE: Except for the mild, undeleted expletive, the preceding paragraph was NOT a rant...it was a question.

  I said...I shall not rant!

  Moving right along...

• The FOP did question one item - did question one decision made by the Cairo Board of Education at the two meetings being reviewed (October 15th and November 17th.) At its November 17th meeting, Superintendent Leotis Swopes recommended and the Cairo BOE "Approved the establishment of a fee of $100 for use of school facilities." The question was raised: "What if...someone were to request the use of District facilities on say a Saturday...for the entire day?" Superintendent Swopes had explained that the proposed $100 fee was to cover the expense of having District personnel open and close the building, and clean the building afterwards...that the fee would NOT cover other expenses such as utilities. The FOP took immediate, decisive action...tabling the "$100 fee" item for further consideration.

  NOTE: The preceding paragraph was NOT a rant...it was mild sarcasm.

  I told you...I shall not rant?

  Moving right along...

I shall not rant...I shall not rant...I shall not rant...