Breaking news from CNN - the CAT News Network...

Just received word from "the trenches"...

"Faculty and staff are being advised to disregard the ‘Cairo String Initiative’ proposal in their mailboxes because it was only a proposal. They were told that this initiative would come about through fundraisers and grant funding."

Well, I guess THAT could be taken as a big, fat confirmation...that the "proposal" IS FOR REAL, not just something that "Miss Paula" (the Master Teacher of Violin) just made up and happened to stick into the folder that was distributed at this month's regular BOE meeting.

$35,000 Violin Fundraisers?

In Cairo, Illinois???

What a hoot...

I hate to burst Miss Paula's bubble, but if she thinks she is going to pull down $35,000 for 35 days of work in the Cairo Public School system, she's got another thing coming.

That "thing", in fact, is that the Cairo Board of Education just imposed a punitive contract on it's part-time employees that DOES NOT ALLOW for such largess.

Miss Paula can forget any advanced degrees she may possess and forget about cashing in on the title of "Master Teacher".

Oh, no, Miss Paula...

You will be paid at the BS level of the existing teachers salary schedule at whatever years of experience that you can prove (maxed out at 28). Trust me on this, it won't be near the $142.86 PER HOUR that you propose.

Oh, and another thing, Miss Paula...Cairo teachers do NOT get paid mileage to drive to school. The only thing Cairo teachers get for living outside the District is...criticized! (I'm not even sure the $100,000 Superintendent gets that perk, although it has been rumored.)

Hey, hey, Paula...just did some more calculations. Speaking of the Superintendent, even he doesn't pull down anywhere near the PER HOUR salary in your proposal. At most, the Superintendent makes around $60 per hour...you expect $143 per hour???