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CAT Tracks for June 28, 2011
GROUNDHOG DAY IN CSD #1 |
Video plays...
...(Bill Murray as) Phil says..."haunts you for the rest of your life."
(Sonny Bono singing) ... then put your little hand in mine, there ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb ... (Cher chiming in) I got you, babe...
Oh, yeah...
The Cairo Board of Education held a Special Meeting on Monday, June 27, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. Below are abbreviated minutes...
...'cause I ain't wastin' my time dignifying their actions.
Yes, as with most dreams and nightmares, there were variations...
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mary Coleman (presiding due to the absence of President Artie McBride.)
Answering roll call were Moore, Burris, Gooden, and Coleman.
During the "Recognition and Comments from Employees and Public", CAT President De De O'Shea went to the podium and informed the BOE that the Association was placing the BOE on official notice of its intent to negotiate a successor agreement to the one which expires June 30, 2011. (While President O'Shea was speaking, the Superintendent's secretary distributed time-stamped copies of the "demand to bargain letter" to the Superintendent and the BOE members.)
A motion was then made, seconded, and approved to approve the agenda of the Special Meeting.
A motion was then made, seconded, and approved to enter closed session at 5:33 p.m.
As the audience (De De O'Shea, Justin Miller, and Moi) filed out, BOE members Brown, Harris, and McBride did arrive and enter. (I shut the door on the whole mess in a futile hope of containing it. (See, despite my protestations to the contrary...hope bounces back.)
Did somebody mention hard-azzed steps? Could have sworn...oh, that's right, I did swear...and asked forgiveness for my lapse into French...
The doors to the Board Room opened at 6:05 p.m. and powers and pee-ons did enter the room. (FOP members, FA members, ISBE personnel wandered in with a couple of scruffy sore-azzed CATs.)
While some BOE members moved to the cheap (but padded) seats to make room for the super "powers that be", one BOE member said in a voice surprisingly loud enough to hear..."We have not adjourned."
Damn...
best laid plans.
I wanted to be done with this post and ship it at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
My digital clock just flipped and I am not done.
I shall return later with more...
...not different, but more...
After the dust settled and the round of musical chairs ended, Glenn Webb (President of the Cairo FOP) called the FOP meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. (Yes, a meeting within a meeting...a dream within a dream!)
All members of the FOP were present...along with several ISBE dignitaries.
Due to the larger than usual turnout, President Webb had everyone introduce themselves so that everyone would know the players...and the pee-ons.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to enter closed session at 6:10 p.m.
Did somebody mention hard-azzed steps? Could have sworn...oh, that's right, I did swear...and asked forgiveness for my lapse into French...
One of Cairo's BOE members walked past the hard-azzed steps at 7:20 p.m. and kindly informed the CATs (who would have probably been more comfortable sitting on garbage cans in an alley) that the "powers that be" were taking a 15-minute break (most likely for refreshments...t's hard work killing hope!)
(I guess) The FOP voted to come out of closed session at 7:45 p.m. (because once again...to be expected on groundhog day) motion's were being offered as the pee-ons entered the room. This time even I missed the motion. When the kindly BOE member who had informed us of the break noticed a couple of confused CATs, he got the recognition of President Webb and asked to back up a bit and repeat the motion. (See...variations and even a good thing or two can happen in recurring dreams, although it just sets the stage for the same old, same-old ending.)
The motion being made was to add a new action item to the list of seven already on the agenda for approval.
The new action item was the appointment of Justin Miller as District CEO for the period of July 1 to July 31 for an additional stipend of $100 per day. (July 1 to July 31 is the legally mandated "time out" period for Superintendent Swopes so that he can fully enjoy his retirement - prior to returning to the District as Interim, making more money than he did before as Cairo's failed Superintendent.
Did all that sound familiar?
Bears repeating...
...Groundhog Day!
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
Call this a commercial break or movie intermission...
What Cairo School District Number One is doing with respect to Leotis Swopes is exactly the kind of thing that is giving you (teachers) grief...statewide, nationwide.
The Cairo Board of Education in conspiracy with the Financial Oversight Panel is giving its failed superintendent a golden parachute. Leotis Swopes gets to draw his big-bucks P-E-N-S-I-O-N and draw $60,000 as Interim Superintendent...more than twice what a lowly starting teacher in Cairo makes.
Oops, I'm sorry...I exaggerated...probably due to my usual efforts to "heighten emotion". Well, no, actually because the State of Illinois - just for this very damn reason - just changed the law on retirees. Retirees in Illinois can only work 100 days now instead of 120 days. So, instead of Leotis being able to milk the District for $500 per day times 120 ($60,000), he can "only" make $500 per day times 100. Not bad though...$50,000 for his "retirement gig"...and whatever "fringes" they bestow upon him (like his current free housing and utilities...and golf.)
So...
IF King Leotis (the not-so-great, according to his "final evaluation") maxed on on his retirement under TRS, he will receive 75% of his best four-consecutive-year average salary during his final 10 years of employment. I'm not privy to that information (although it is public record...although it was conveniently/coincidentally left out of the legally mandated posting of salaries in the Cairo Citizen...the only salary left out. Hmmm...)
Oops, back on topic...
For the past three years in Cairo, Leotis Swopes has made approximately $100,000 per year. (His year prior to coming to Cairo, there were some "employment difficulties". Why else would Cairo hire him??? Remember that previous dude - Dreameyer or something - the dude that got fired from his District before we could get his signature on a contract, who the Cairo BOE offered an extra $10,000 when he initially turned Cairo down...before he got fired?
Uh, okay, oops again...
...a million (outrageous, sordid) stories in the naked District!
Anyway...
For the sake of simple math:
Superintendent Swopes gets 75% of his $100,000 salary for retirement...$75,000. He takes a golfing vacation in July...at least temporarily honoring the "No Golfing Allowed on School Property" sign posted behind his office. Then he makes his triumphant return to the District at $500 per day for 100 days...$50,000.
Again...
This is what is giving teachers (who never make the "big bucks" that administrators do) a bad name...and putting their pensions under attack in Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ohio, etc.
Leotis Swopes will make something like $125,000 as a "retired teacher" next year!
Do you hear what I hear? DAMNED FAT-CAT TEACHERS...DAMNED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES!!!
And
So...
You don't have to look very far to see who is giving you a bad name and putting your pension system in jeopardy.
The Cairo Board of Education and the Cairo Financial Oversight Panel!
Okay, end of commercial/intermission...
...back to the movie!
Groundhog Day in CSD #1...
After the FOP amended their "action items to be approved" with the addition of Justin Miller's appointment as District CEO for July, a motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve said items. (I should probably paws here and remind you that we are currently in the FOP meeting that is being conducted within the BOE meeting. Dreams, especially recurring dreams, can be so confusing...)
The next item "considered" by the FOP...
...please refer to the FOP agenda posted earlier on CAT Tracks.
Item #6...which was a consideration of Item #4 from the May 23, 20011 meeting.
Confusing? Well, evidently FOP President Webb thought so...taking time to explain proper procedure for not considering that which was listed to be considered...that the motion to consider the item had to be taken off the table.
Bottom Line: Larry Baldwin and Charlotte Lovelace will continue to twist in the wind while Leotis takes the money and ru...uh...golfs!
Bears repeating...
...there are powers that be and pee-ons. (CAT Tracks Editor's Catty Commentary: Larry and Charlotte should have at least been provided with a clothing allowance so that they could send their urine-stained garments to the cleaners.)
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adopt the FY 12 Schedule of Meetings...meetings that will continue to be held on the Monday following the third Thursday of the month Regular BOE Meetings...at 6 p.m. President Webb expressed his belief that changing the meetings from during the work day to the evenings would allow the BOE members to attend and become familiar with the FOP members and their work. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: The fact that this works better for District employees like, say, the CAT President...well, call it the "trickle down" effect. Hmmm...maybe Madam President should get that clothing allowance also!)
Are you getting the feeling that I'm still pissed?
Ya think?
Hmmm...
...me, pissed...
Wonder if I could get a clothing allowance?
Oops, I'm sorry...my bad! I'm one of those fat-CAT retirees...making $120,000 a year, living in a taxpayer provided cottage, playing golf off (and on) school time. I should be ashamed for even thinking of a clothing allowance...
...but, then again, nobody else connected with Cairo School District Number One seems to have any sense of shame!
The FOP moved on...
And, here is where the dream faded from view...having taken place behind closed doors.
FOP President Webb made mention that Items #9 and #10 on the FOP agenda had been discussed during closed session. This is where the FOP gave the BOE their verbal approval for hiring Leotis Swopes as Interim Superintendent.
CAT Tracks Editor's Note:
"How do you know, since you just said it was discussed in closed session?"
Ye, of little faith...
Catnip the Magnificent knows all, sees all!
Be a Doubting Thomas if you wish...
...just don't get your hopes up.
Hope died on the evening of June 24, 2011.
Circumstantial evidence?
The FOP did NOT vote to stop the action taken by the Cairo Board of Education when it named Leotis Swopes the Interim Superintendent. The FOP DID vote to pave the way by naming Justin Miller at CEO for July.
Cling to Hope's corpse if you will...I fully understand the reluctance to let go. But...it's time to face the reality of Cairo School District Number One. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...
Speaking of worse...
I know, I know...some of you after reading Friday night's report have already started to hunker down. You've decided to accept the inevitable. Forget the Superintendent...and those enamored by him! (Glad it was you that said that...I might have started speaking French again!) Focus on my classroom and teaching There I shall find comfort...stability within a sea of insanity.
Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings...
Item #11 on the FOP agenda..."Status of District's Planned Facility Expansion."
Speaking of clustering ducks...
Bottom Line: Nobody has a clue as to what, when, or where!
You've heard the rumors:
Anyway...
Retiring Superintendent Leotis Swopes came prepared for this discussion with a architect's design, a copy of which was given to the "powers that be". (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: I can understand copies of the plans not being given to pee-ons. Pee-ons are on a need-to-know basis...they don't need to know...they just work here. PLUS: The ink would probably run when wet...)
Apparently "Plan A" has pre-school going to the "pod". There was discussion of changing out a restroom to accommodate the little ones. When the Superintendent was done with his presentation, one of the ISBE representatives expressed a concern, something along the lines of..."Wouldn't it be more cost effective to move the 5th and 6th Grades...and not have to change the plumbing; leave the pre-school at Emerson where the plumbing facilities are appropriate?" Well, this brought up another concern from a Cairo BOE Member, that..."Kids grow up too quickly in Cairo. Putting a well-developed female 5th- or 6th-Grader with older boys was going to be a temptation, whereas putting a pre-schooler would be less so." This concern led FOP President Webb to comment that other schools have a mixture of ALL children, bringing a retort from the Cairo BOE Member that those building were built for all ages...built to provide isolation, whereas the jerry-rigging of CJSHS to accommodate various age groups did not provide such. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: That last sentence was not a quote, but it provides the gist of what was said.)
There was much more mumbling and roaring of the air-conditioning unit, but one thing was clear...no decision was made.
A final query from the FOP concerned the cost of remodeling CJSHS under "Plan A". Superintendent Swopes indicated that the cost would be $180,000. A follow-up question by somebody was whether that figure included the architect's fees (which are considerable). Superintendent Swopes responded that "Yes, the fees are included", but some facial expression indicated doubt among some.
And, if all of that discussion got you "hunker-downers", you "lock my classroom door and keep the insanity out" folks nervous, I've got two things to add:
So, as you hunker in your bunker...remember the news reports about 600-pound bunker-buster bombs that the United States used against the Iraqis and the Afghans et al. CSD #1 has WMDs (Weapons of Mass DISRUPTION) that Pentagon officials would pee in their pants to get. (It's okay...the military does have a clothing allowance.)
And then came the coup attempt by Superintendent Swopes...
Unable to make any decisions on future facility use, the FOP turned to what they probably thought a simple issue...Item #12 on the FOP agenda..."Discussion of Role of Financial Administrator (FA) for FY 2011-12 School Year and Extension of FA's Contract".
For you casual readers...
The Financial Administrator-FA actually consists of three retired superintendents who have been hired by the FOP to oversee the financial dealing of the District. (Some refer to them fondly as "Three Wise Men".) In 2003, they took the disorganized mess called "District Accounts" (aka Humpty Dumpty) and tried to put it all back together again. I'm sure that they can empathize with all the king's horses and all the king's men. To say it has been a challenge...another classic understatement.
Reference was made by someone at the table to the actions taken by the Cairo Board of Education (hiring Leotis Swopes as Interim Superintendent) as endorsing "Scenario 3" among the previously listed alternatives for the coming school year:
Well...
Buoyed by his Friday night hiring, retiring Superintendent/Interim Superintendent to be, Leotis Swopes dropped the bomb..."Scenario 4".
Superintendent Swopes proposed that the FOP reduce the FA's budget by another $30,000...that the District would pick up the slack.
Bears repeating...
WELL!
You could have heard a pin drop...even above the roar of the air conditioner.
Talk about your pregnant pauses!!!
I mean...BOY! Were some of their faces red!!!
Finally, FOP President Webb gave Superintendent Swopes an opportunity to explain.
Wasn't much to the explanation...just that the District felt it was time to resume control over it's destiny. (My choice of descriptor not his/theirs.)
While obviously tip-toeing on egg-shells, President Webb indicated that he well understood that their (the FOP's) job was to eventually put itself out of business...return control back to the District. But...
...now wasn't the time to make that decision. President Webb expressed his belief that the FA were professionals and that they would NOT bill the district unnecessarily and would cut their expenses should the opportunity arrive.
In short...
...in fair turnabout, the District's "hope" of getting rid of the FOP and the FA died on Friday night.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to extend the FA's Contract as per "Scenario 3" for the FY 2011-12 School Year.
There was some other minor stuff to close out the FOP meeting, mostly drowned out by the AC unit.
Did hear during a discussion of Item #14 - "Status of District's Finances" - some of the usual "WOLF" cry...that, yes, the District ended up in the black, but that was because of the federal jobs money and that if it had not been for that...blah, blah, blah. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: In 2005, CSD #1 had $2.5 million in the bank. In 2008, after three years of Chicken Little crying WOLF at the door, CSD #1 had $2.5 million in the bank. And, just this month - after another three years of Chicken Little and the Wolfman, the CSD #1 BOE and FOP approved a treasurer's report that shows $3,834,632.11 in the bank!
Evidently, Chicken Little is full of it!
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn the FOP meeting at 8:22 p.m.
End of Groundhog Day in CSD #1...
...roll the credits!
WHOA!
Turn the lights back down...
...return to your seats!
The Cairo Board of Education is still in session...
As the FOP members filed out of the room, there was discussion among the BOP members...when they might meet again...for some unfinished business.
There was a suggestion of Wednesday. That drew an objection. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: No reason was given for the Wednesday objection, but Catnip the Magnificent can answer your unasked question..."Thank God in Heaven...Wednesday is 'church night'.")
There was some more mumbling and finally a consensus was reached...
...can we watch the movie just one more time?!
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to re-enter closed session at 8:26 p.m.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to re-exit closed session at 9:15 p.m.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to recall Keeshia Carr.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve $5,000 for asbestos removal (in a bathroom by the gym.)
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to hire Rose Mary Kloss for 100 days for the 2011-2012 School Year. (Again, the reduction of days for retirees from 120 to 100.)
A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn at 9:20 p.m.
I'm off to Walmart...gotta buy some paper and ink for my printer.
I mean...
...this one's a keeper, an historic edition...the longest damned CAT Tracks that you will ever see!!!
Have a nice day...
...a nice SAT(on the hard-azzed concrete steps)URDAY!
Three (3) Possible Scenarios for the 2011-12 School Year:
