I. Call To Order - 5:08 p.m.

II. Roll Call - (BOE Member Brown left the Board Room at 5:03 p.m. after expressing frustration that a quorum was not present at the scheduled 5 p.m.) - Answering roll call were Coleman, Vaughn, McBride, Gooden, and Burris. (Stubblefield arrived at 5:09 p.m.)

III. Recognition and Comments from Employees and Public - None.

IV. Approval of Agenda - Special Meeting - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

V. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 5:10 p.m. (BOE Member Stubblefield left the Board Room/Building at 6:02 p.m.) The BOE voted to exit closed session at 6:03 p.m.

VI. Litigation & Contracts - (Belinda Becker - one of the BOE's attorneys from Robbins et al arrived shortly before the meeting began and remained in closed session. She left the Board Room/Building at 5:34 p.m. At least there was only one attorney and one vehicle to pay mileage on rather that the two attorneys and the two vehicles from the last litigation Special Meeting.)

VII. Requiring Action/Decision By Board of Education

1. Address Any Action Deemed Necessary By Board On Matters Considered in Executive Session:

   Superintendent Swopes recommended that the BOE enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to "float" the premiums for the District's group health insurance plan with BCBS for two months, an amount not to exceed $42,000.

   As you know, BCBS hit the CSD #1 group with a 38% premium increase...an increase from the current $653 to $907. Since the BOE pays $480 toward individual employee insurance, the employee contribution would go from the current $173 per month to $427...OUCH!

   The District Insurance Committee has been working with Broker Kenny Johnson to secure comparable insurance at a reduced premium. Negotiations are ongoing with Egyptian Trust to admit CSD #1 to their group which, if successful, would result in a much-reduced premium.

   To "buy time", the "MOU" proposed by the District would pay the increased premiums to BCBS for the next two months to maintain group health coverage...without raising the employee monthly deduction beyond the current $173 per month. HOWEVER...if you are a member of the group, YOU eventually will have to pay this increased premium!

   The hope...

   ...is that Egyptian Trust will accept the Cairo group at a much lower premium. If this happens, beginning in September, YOU will pay the new lower premium for Egyptian Trust PLUS a portion of the premium that you did NOT pay over the summer for the BCBS coverage. This will go on for 5 or 6 months until the District's "advance" is repaid.

   At that time, the employee would pay the reduced premium for the new Egyptian Trust coverage...which would be less that the old BCBS coverage.

   This is NOT a done deal...we are at the mercy of Egyptian Trust.

   
   

   CAT Tracks Editor's Note:

   Folks...this is a good thing!

   The District did NOT have to do this...it is to their credit that they did.

   This is the kind of collaborative effort that has been missing from Cairo School District Number One, well, forever. The only other time that we have had such an effort was during the reign of King Samuel Harbin I.

   Let us pray...

   ...that this all works out AND that it is an indication of a better relationship to come.

   Sure would cut down on the cost of litigation...

2. Other - None.

VIII. Adjourn - The BOE voted to adjourn at 6:05 p.m.