Owe some CATs an apology...AGAIN! They showed up to attend the "Public Hearing" on District restructuring. When the BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:20 p.m., we took our positions in the hallway. One "newbie" asked about when the BOE would come out...wondering if it would be by 7 p.m. I laughed...NO WAY! I predicted 8:30 p.m.

Well, the BOE exited closed session at 7:16 p.m. and adjourned at 7:23 p.m. Hush my mouth!

Incidentally, Channel 3 and Channel 6 had news crews at the meeting, so you might watch their respective 10 o'clock news programs.

The Cairo Board of Education held its regular meeting on Thursday, February 18, 2010. Below is an annotated agenda to serve as minutes...

VI. Approval of Agendas - Superintendent Swopes indicated that he had two additions to make to the regular meeting agenda; namely the approval of the School Improvement Plan and a change in the date of the April BOE meeting, from the 3rd Thursday to the 4th Thursday. Motion made, seconded, and passed to approve the agendas as amended.

• Regular Meeting
• Closed Meeting

VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Superintendent Swopes read the highlights. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - Motion made, seconded, and passed...without question (despite another sizable contribution to the Robbers All legal fund. More about that in a separate CAT Tracks.)

IX. Informational

1. Recognition - Jim Drew - Superintendent Swopes indicated that another school district that Cairo plays in sports sent a letter complimenting the work of Jim Drew as Athletic Director. Superintendent Swopes added his praise for the efforts that Jim Drew had made in securing more home-away contracts for games instead of Cairo always having to play away.

2. Superintendent Swopes recognized Principals Houston and Pickett for their schools being cited by the PBIS Network for their dedicated staffs...Emerson Elementary as an "Emerging School" and Bennett Elementary as a "Start-Up School".

3. Super-Tenured Teacher (JAMP) - See Packet on Legal Opinion - There was time...prior to 1987...that any teacher who worked for JAMP acquired tenure in ALL participating school districts (of which there are currently 11.) If such a teacher was RIFed, that teacher could "bump" non-tenured teachers or tenured teachers of less seniority in any of those districts. Apparently, there is a likelihood of that happening this year as Meridian is considering discontinuing its Early Childhood program, a position currently held by a "Super-Tenured Teacher". If the happens, then that teacher can initiate the bumping process. Until the program is officially eliminated, this is all conjecture. However, Superintendent Swopes wanted the BOE to be aware of the possible ramifications.

4. Professional Time Away From The District - Dr. Swopes - Superintendent Swopes presented the BOE members of his "dates out of the office", which included April 14-16 to attend a workshop for State Superintendents...which will necessitate the aforementioned change in the April Cairo BOE meeting.

5. Census Counts: As A School Board Initiative (Current & Past) - Superintendent Swopes noted the under-counting of population for Cairo during the last census and the resultant loss of revenue. He suggested that the current members of the Board of Education AND past members take on the project of getting everyone counted this time. He stressed how people in the community knew the BOE members and might well respond to their call to be counted. Vice President Stubblefield is the BOE's official census representative. He brought the members and the audience up to date on the planning for the local census. Mr. Stubblefield indicated that the official kick-off for the 2010 Census will be April 1st, with forms being mailed to residents in the latter part of March.

6. Checks Deposited - District Account

   $16,225.26 - Federal Lunch
   8,982.46 - Federal Breakfast
   36,434.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
   2,860.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
   26,126.50 - Special Ed. Extraordinary
   30,781.17 - Regular Transportation
   1,559.00 - Title VI - Rural Education
   43,625.37 - Special Education Personnel
   32,120.93 - TAMES
   357,277.24 - Real Estate Taxes - Alexander County
   2,618.75 - Lease Payment- Shawnee College (January)
   190,314.92 - State Aid - Dec. - 2nd Payment
   3,519.00 - Tech. Enhancing Education
   4,155.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
   61,875.00 - Title II Teacher Quality
   2,618.75 - Lease Payment - Shawnee College (February)
   50.00 - First Student Transit - Rent

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:20 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 7:16 p.m.

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Personnel employment, resignation, release, discipline, or compensation.

   a. Hire Mike Brown - (Interim) Head Boys & Girls Track Coach - High School - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

   b. Hire Anita Clay - Asst. Boys & Girls Track Coach - High School - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

2. Approve Updates - Board Policy Manual - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

3. Approve School Improvement Plan - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

4. Change the date for the Regular April BOE Meeting from April 15th to April 22nd. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

5. Schedule a Special BOE Meeting for March 4, 2010 for the purpose of personnel decisions and district reorganization. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

   ---

   Superintendent Swopes then informed the media and the audience that the remaining agenda items were being held in abeyance...postponed. Superintendent Swopes then went on to announce that a series of public hearings would be held on the subject of the District's plans to restructure.

   The date, location, and time of those public hearings are as follows:

   • February 23, 2010 at Bennett Elementary - 6 p.m.

   • February 25, 2010 at Emerson Elementary - 6 p.m.

   • March 2, 2010 at the Central Office - 6 p.m.

   The "plan" is for the BOE to meet, field questions, and create a document to answer the concerns of the public expressed at the February 23rd meeting. That document will be presented to the public at the February 25th meeting and expanded to incorporate any questions/concerns raised that night. A revised document will be created and presented to the public at the March 2nd meeting and expanded to incorporate any questions/concerns raised that night. A final document will be prepared for discussion and action at the Special BOE Meeting on March 4, 2010, at 6 p.m.

   Superintendent Swopes then explained the BOE's action...that they had been touched by the response of the community and that maybe the BOE had been remiss in not discussing the restructuring plan more fully with the public.

   ---

6. Approve Date For High School Graduation - Postponed.

7. Approve District Re-Organization Plan - Postponed.

8. Eliminate Coord. Of Grants/Student Services - Postponed.

9. Non-Renewal of Contract (2) - Postponed.

10. Eliminate Elementary Dean - Postponed.

11. Honorable Dismissals - Postponed.

12. Reduction In Force; With Letters of Recommendation - Due to Lack of Funding - Postponed.

XII. Other - None

XIII. Old Business - None