BOE members in attendance were Coleman, Vaughn, McBride, Gooden, and Burris. (Brown arrived during closed session at 6:43 p.m.)

Folks...it's over, the deed is done. Say good-bye to Francis Bennett and Harry Emerson. Say hello to "Cairo Elementary School".

In possibly a record-setting closed session of only 40 minutes (including eating time), the Cairo Board of Education voted to honorably dismiss for economic reasons 5 tenured teachers (3 of whom are guaranteed to stay/return due to seniority bumping rights), non-renew 8 nontenured teachers, release 9 teacher aides, release 2 secretaries, release 2 custodians, and release 1 administrator. The BOE also voted to eliminate the positions of Coordinator of Student Services and Maintenance Head. They voted to adopt the District's reorganization plan for Fiscal 2011...including the renaming of the Emerson Elementary School building.

But...

Y'all can pick up your third souvenir set of "The Pink Sheets" compiled from tonight's reorganization meeting on Monday???

To put this in proper perspective...

There were several members of the Class of 2010 in attendance...wanting to know "Why the graduation date has not been set?"

The Superintendent and the BOE spent 25 minutes arguing the merits of May 16th or May 23rd. (Actually, it began with May 15th or May 22nd. Apparently, CJSHS personnel had recommended May 15th, but the Superintendent was recommended May 22nd. The BOE then decided they didn't like Saturday as a graduation day, wanted Sunday instead.)

The first motion was for May 16th, but it failed 3-2.

The second motion was for May 23rd. It passed 4-1.

As President Burris was calling for closed session, tempers flared. The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:27 p.m. As the audience filed out and took their positions in the hallway, various BOE members exited the building and re-entered. When the dust settled, all BOE members returned to the meeting.

And...AGAIN...all of this was related to a difference of opinion over the graduation date...NOT the termination of sixteen (16) employees or the closing of two District buildings.

It's all a matter of priorities...