VI. Approval of Agendas - A motion was made, seconded, and passed.

1. Regular Meeting
2. Closed Meeting

VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Superintendent Swopes read the totals. A motion was made, seconded, and passed.

VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - Without questions, a motion was made, seconded, and passed.

IX. Informational

1. With two representatives of the District's architectural firm in attendance and "on the clock", the scheduled agenda was interrupted to allow them to make a presentation concerning the construction of an addition to Cairo Elementary, along with significant renovations. CAT was given copies of the handouts, but due to their "tentative" nature, CAT will not publish them. Some general comments:
   • Cairo is "in line" to receive a grant.
   • A representative of Capital Development (the school construction folks at the state level) will be in Cairo on August 25 to review the particulars of the grant.
   • Superintendent Swopes expressed his belief that the District was in better shape than ever before to provide the 25% share that the local district is required to provide. He expressed his belief that the District should apply for every dollar possible...and explore the extent of the District's bonding power.
   • Architect Mevert distributed a floor plan of the proposed addition to Cairo Elementary, providing for 9 classrooms (including a double-sized room with a folding partition.)
   • Architect Mevert recommended a project that would house at least 250 students. With that provision, "associated costs" would be covered by the grant. Anything less, any "associated costs" would fall 100% upon the District.
   • Architect Mevert echoed the recommendation of Superintendent Swopes...that this was an opportunity that the District would pass up at its own peril. An opportunity like this would probably not come around for another 10 years...if ever.
   • Projected size of the project: $3.3 million; District share $832,000.
   • Another handout was distributed that listed other grants possibly available to the District, e.g. Maintenance ($50,000) and Energy ($250,000).
   • Superintendent Swopes indicated that he was exploring three bonding possibilities: $300,000, $600,000, and $900,000. His projection for increased property taxes for the $900,000 bonding was 25 cents per $100 valuation (I think. Don't hold me to that, but that's how it is usually done. He mentioned 15 cents for one of the others, but I missed the amount for the remaining one.)
   • The architect emphasized the opportunity of the District quadrupling its investment...the state providing $3 for every $1 put forth by the District.
   • When the architect was asked about a possible starting date for construction, he replied...Fall, 2011.

2. Record Disposal Announcement - JAMP - I didn't actually hear what they said about this. I ass-u-me that JAMP sent a letter to CSD #1 notifying them of the impending disposal of records. If you have a better guess let me know. If I like it, I might use it!)

3. Response to Intervention (RtI) Plan - ISBE - Superintendent Swopes informed the BOE that the District received a letter from ISBE stating that CSD #1 did an "outstanding job" on drafting its RtI Plan.

4. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Information - ISBE - Superintendent Swopes said that in lieu of an oral report, he had instead placed a paper report in their BOE packet.

5. Thank You Card - Brenda Jones.

6. Early Childhood Block Grant - Skipped without comment.

7. Research Project - Evidently a questionnaire in the BOE packet. Superintendent Swopes encouraged the members to complete the form and send it in.

8. Teacher Institutes - First one today; another tomorrow. Superintendent Swopes repeated his invitation for a BOE member to speak at tomorrow's institute...to welcome employees...give encouragement for a successful new year. He, again, got no volunteers and indicated that if necessary, he would perform the honors...that he had no problem with that. Mystery and intrigue! Cannot wait to see who tomorrow brings! (Was that catty?)

9. Superintendent's Report - Superintendent Swopes indicated that a written report was included in the BOE packets...containing confidential information that should be safeguarded.

10. Life Skills Program - Apparently Cairo planned on sending two special needs students to Meridian for the Life Skills Program. Cairo was obligated to provide an individual aide for each student. However, one of the parents has notified the District that she is not sending her child to Meridian. So, the problem/question...what to do with the "extra aide"?

11. Superintendent Swopes indicated that he had received an e-mail notifying the District that because of the "Jobs Bill" passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, Cairo would possibly receive an additional $370,000. Superintendent Swopes indicated that he would keep the BOE informed.

12. I missed the name of the organization, but some Arts Project group contacted Superintendent Swopes and requested a quote for the sale of the Bennett Elementary School Building. There was no reaction from the BOE.

13. Checks Deposited - District Account

    $ 1,559.00 - Title VI Rural Education
    13,920.00 - Title II Teacher Quality
    74,669.00 - ARRA Title I Low Income
    630.00 - Fresh Fruit & Veg. Grant
    169,456.00 - Title I Low Income
    3,971.70 - Federal Lunch
    1,940.10 - Federal Breakfast
    1,412.56 - State Lunch
    1,430.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
    1,414.00 - Reading Improvement
    1,460.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
    10,323.42 - E-Rate Program - AT& T
    5,133.42 - E-Rate Program - AT & T
    4,174.16 - Personal Property Replacement Tax
    50.00 - First Student Transit - Rent

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 7:02 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at...oops, I failed to write the time down! It was maybe 9:10 p.m. or 9:15 p.m. (Maybe Madam President will enlighten me...)

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

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

   a. Hire Rosemary Kloss - Tech. Coord.- Up to 120 days - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

   b. Recall Melissa Grosskreutz - RtI Interventionist - Motion made, seconded, and passed (with a disclaimer that it was a grant supported position.)

   c. Employ Regina Brown - Head Jr. High Girls Basketball Coach & Head Jr High Boys/Girls Track Coach - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

   d. Employ Bernard Brown- Asst. Coach - Jr. High Boys Basketball - Skipped without comment.

2. Egyptian Area Schools Employee Benefit Trust - Adoption Agreement - Motion made, seconded, and passed to authorize the Superintendent to enter into the agreement on behalf of the District.

3. Place on Reading - Board Policy Manual Updates - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

4. Approve Job Description - Motion made, seconded, and passed to approve the job description for the new Director of Curriculum.

5. Admin. Salaries - Motion made, seconded, and passed to approve administrative salaries per document included in BOE packet.

6. Admin. Position - Skipped without comment.

7. Belatedly, there was discussion as to whether there was a need to approve a handbook held up by Mr. Stubblefield. (I kept trying to see the title...probably the CSD #1 Parent-Student Handbook for the 2010-2011 School Year, but I wouldn't swear to it.) Motion made, seconded, and passed.

XII. Other - A motion was made, seconded, and passed to appoint Gabriel Harris to the vacancy on the BOE caused by the resignation of Charlene Vaughn.

XIII. Old Business - None.