VI. Approval of Agendas - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

1. Regular Meeting
2. Closed Meeting

VII. Approval of Treasurer's Report - Interim Superintendent Justin Miller read the highlights and explained the "bump" to $4.5 million...the 2nd installment of the local property taxes. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

VIII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - No questions or discussion. Motion made, seconded, and passed.

IX. Informational

(CAT Tracks Editor's Note: In the surprise of the evening, Elizabeth Lewin - President of the Cairo Financial Oversight Panel - entered the room during Mr. Miller's informational presentation. From the reaction of the BOE members, it appeared that they were as surprised as us CATs. She took one of the "cheap seats" without comment...then remained in closed session, leaving sometime during closed session.)

1. Update on ISBE Audits - Unlike the annual audit performed by a CPA firm, the state does a "pick and choose" audit of grants. Something new this year...instead of checking the spending of a previous year, they check the spending of current grants..."real time". One focus is in the area of "reimburseable grants"...where the money has to first be spent by the provider, which then applies for reimbursement. (This approach was developed because some districts were receiving the grant money up front, but then hoarding it instead of spending it.

2. Discussion Regarding Education, Jobs, Supplemental Funds Allocation to District, $5,576.00 - This is a second distribution of what was left over of the federal money that was distributed last year. Last year, Cairo received $380,000. Mr. Miller indicated that some districts were turning down the money...that they considered it too small, that the cost of tracking the money was as much or more than the money itself. Mr. Miller assured the BOE members that Cairo was NOT turning down ANY money.

3. Update on Facilities Plan, Placement of the District Office at the CJSHS Property - Mr. Miller reviewed earlier plans to closed the CCEC building and to move the District's Central Office into the pod area at CJSHS. He indicated that he had explored the possibility of using the vacated cottage. However, that idea proved unworkable because, as "public space", the present cottage would have to be made handicapped accessible which was simply not feasible. Therefore, it was Mr. Miller's opinion that the District Office should be moved into the "Green Hallway" area of CJSHS. Mr. Miller noted that there needed to be discussion with SCC on their concerns for office and classroom space. Mr. Miller concluded his remarks about facilities by noting that the District was "accumulating buildings"...the CCEC building and Bennett School, plus, that the District still owned the old Garrison Building. He expressed his hope that someone could be found who would take over the buildings and utilize them.

4. Update on 21st Century Grant (Memorandum of Understanding) MOU - Mr. Jackson was present to make a presentation. His remarks were brief: That the program was off to a good start, but that the number of students participating at "the high school" was a problem. (Like only 10, whereas there are maybe 50 at CES.) Mr. Jackson then asked if the BOE members had any questions. There were some questions raised...mostly along the lines that the BOE was unaware of some of the things that the District was being held accountable...e.g. snacks and transportation. A woman representing the bus company indicated that the bill for transporting 21st Century participants was being billed directly to the bus company...was NOT going through the District. Another concern expressed by the BOE was that the 21st Century Grant indicated a need for access to student records and that that might place the District at risk for liability. (There was some back-and-forth discussion on this, but I didn't follow it.) BTW: Evidently the 21st Century Grant is one of those aforementioned "reimburseable grants". Although the "grant" is for $417,000 (for each of three years)...the provider must spend the money before it gets the money...applying after the fact for reimbursement. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: WOW...somebody must have some deep pockets!)

5. Graduation Date For CJSHS: May 19, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. - BOE Member Rodney Moore indicated that he did not like the proposed date...that he wanted to do as in the past and have graduation on Memorial Day weekend to facilitate attendance by out-of-towners. Further discussion indicated that since the District had not yet used any of its built-in emergency days, that the last day of student attendance now stands to be May 26th...BEFORE Memorial Day weekend. CJSHS Principal Zena Madison indicated that the Class of '92 had already requested use of the building on Memorial Day weekend for their 20th reunion. (Turns out that 1992 was Mr. Moore's graduating class.)

6. Prom Date For CJSHS: May 5, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. - Mentioned with no discussion.

7. Update on the Rule 85 Project for both CES and CJSHS - Mr. Miller called on the two building principals to report to the BOE on their efforts in implementing the Rule 85 Project. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: I didn't get much out of the discussion because I didn't have a clue as to "Rule 85". However, while sitting out in the hall during closed session, I was enlightened. The "85" refers to the minimum grade that every student should score on teacher assessments, i.e. tests. If a student does not, the teacher is supposed to come up with a strategy the will enable that student to do so.) Both principals spoke of having regular "conversations" with their teachers...identifying struggling students and the teacher's plans for assisting them. Apparently, teachers have been required to turn in copies of their tests for the past couple of years, but the tests were placed in boxes and shipped to the Superintendent's office where they sat unused. This year, the tests are turned into the principals, who review them, and then have the aforementioned "conversations" with the individual teachers.

8. Presentation of Updated JAMP Special Education Policies - Mr. Miller indicated that the policies were in the BOE members packets and that they should try to find time to review them.

9. Proposed Bond Reissuance - A number of years ago (I missed how many), the District issued Life, Health, Safety bonds...20-year bonds. (A bond is how a school district borrows money.) The interest rate on the bonds was 6.25%. In today's low interest period (approximately half that of the past), the District could re-issue the bonds and save money. Mr. Miller gave the example that if the District had been able to do so over the past 5 years, it would have saved approximately $150,000. So, his question to the BOE..."Do you want me to set up some meetings with representatives of bond companies and explore the re-issuing of bonds?" There was an easy consensus of "Yes".

10. Checks Deposited - District Account

    $320,102.16 - Real Estate Taxes - Alexander County
    170,243.22 - State Aid - Jan. - 1st Payment
    49,249.00 - Title I Low Income
    11,515.00 - Title II Teacher Quality
    170,243.22 - State Aid - Jan. - 2nd Payment
    36,885.75 - Special Ed. Personnel
    21,793.05 - Special Ed. Extraordinary
    9,856.55 - Special Ed. Transportation
    32,791.31 - Transportation - Regular & Vocational
    2,618.75 - CCEC Lease Payment - Shawnee College

X. Closed Session - The BOE voted to enter closed session at 7:02 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 9:57 p.m.

XI. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Personnel employment, resignation, release, discipline, or compensation
   a. Accept Resignation of Nancy Tammen Due to Retirement, Effective The End of 2011-2012 School Year - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

2. Approve Cairo Women's Shelter, Inc. Linkage Agreement With Cairo School District #1 - (Information in Folder) - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

3. Approve Resolution for VFW, (See Attached) - (As a taxing body, the District is waiving the collection of taxes on the identified property in return for the VFW's commitment to turn the unsightly area into a park) - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

4. Approve Resolution for Clearwave Communications (See Attached) - The District is granting an easement for laying fiber-optic cable to CJSHS - Motion made, seconded, and passed.

5. Approve Request From Bus Company to Park Buses at Bennett Playground - This item was tabled for re-evaluation.

6. Announcements:
   • CJSHS Principal wants to have a Junior High Girls Volley Ball Team for this Spring.

   • February 23rd - Black History Program at CJSHS at 9 a.m. Then, at 4 p.m. there will be a Chili Dinner...followed at 5:30 p.m. by another Black History Program.

   • February 29th - The Documentary Film "Between Two Rivers" will be shown in the CJSHS Cafeteria at 4:30 p.m. The presentation is open to the public...free of charge.

XII. Old Business - None.

XIII. Adjourn...A motion was made, seconded, and passed to adjourn at 10:02 p.m.

CLOSED SESSION IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE OR DISMISSAL OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES WHICH MAY BE OF A TEMPORARY CONFIDENTIAL NATURE, STUDENT DISCIPLINE, PLACEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, DISCUSSION OF LITIGATION PROBABLE, IMMINENT, FILED OR PENDING AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR RELATED ISSUES.