CAT Tracks for February 22, 2012
SPECIAL BOE MEETING...MINUTES

Okay, I'm going to try to play this straight...keep to script.

I don't dare allow my fingers to stray.


BOE President Artie McBride called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Burris, Coleman, Gooden, Harris, and McBride answered roll Call. (Brown entered the room at 5:32 p.m.; Moore entered at 5:37 p.m.)

No one in the audience (of 14) asked to be recognized. (The audience grew to 20. President McBride noted that the boys basketball team was playing in the semi-finals at Meridian...thus the small crowd.)

A motion to approve the agenda for the special meeting was made, seconded, and passed.

President McBride then laid down the ground rules for the evening:


CANDIDATE #1: Gwen Walters (African-American Female)

Gwen jump right into her "Vision" for Cairo School District Number One...reading a PowerPoint presentation to us, following proper textbook guidelines with a goodly smattering of current educational buzz words.

(CAT Tracks Editor's Note: No, I did NOT take copious notes...and Gwen did not distribute copies of her PowerPoint presentation.


CANDIDATE #2: Kevin Blankenship (White Male)

Kevin employed no PowerPoint or notes...simply addressed the audience.

(CAT Tracks Editor's Note: Kevin evidently did not "get the memo", saying that he was going to give a bit of information about himself and then open the floor to questions from the audience.)

Kevin told us that he a Johnston City native, attending Johnston City Public Schools and then SIU-C. He has been a K-12 Principal for the past 13 years. He voiced his love of sports and emphasized that by being a Southern Illinois boy, he knew the culture of the area...important for a superintendent.

With that, he opened the floor to questions. That is when he finally received the memo that only the BOE would ask questions and that they had none at this time.

Fairly smoothly, Kevin then adlibed some of his ideas concerning the role of superintendent. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: Fair is fair...I did not take notes of his remarks either.)


And...

...that was it!

The original ten applicants for the position of Superintendent of Cairo School District Number One was reduced to six for the original round of interviews, three for the aborted second round, expanded to five for tonight's public session, which dwindled to the "final two".

I am sure that employees of CSD #1 have noted the glaring void...

...no Justin Miller.

It is not yet official (although it may be on Thursday night), but Mr. Miller has been offered another position and withdrew his application for Cairo Superintendent of Schools for the 2011-2012 School Year.

Thus my afternoon bulletin to CAT Tracks subscribers...reminding them that HOPE in CSD #1 had died.

Tonight's meeting could easily qualify as the wake...a truly sad and sorrowful one (since alcohol is banned from school property.)


A couple of comments/observations:

  • There was a moment of prayer when one member of the audience (upon the conclusion of Gwen Walters' PowerPoint presentation observed: "God help us!"...which got an immediate "Amen".

  • A couple of community members were heard to say: "They need to start the search all over again" on their way out the door. (They didn't bother to wait until the BOE emerged from closed session.)


Oops...

...guess I need to back up a bit.

The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 6:34 p.m.

President McBride announced to the handful who stayed that no decision had been reached during closed session.

A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed at 6:35 p.m.


And, backing up a bit more...

If you want an indication of the "favorite" in the remaining two-person race:

After Mr. Blankenship finished his presentation, BOE President McBride went to retrieve Ms. Walters...giving her a "second presentation", this time without PowerPoint. Ms. Walters was given the opportunity to share her "personal background" with the audience...an Arkansas native, attended the University of Illinois on a scholarship, 20 years of education experience as principal and consultant in the Chicago/Rock Island/Calumet City area, currently completing her doctorate.

Mr. Blankenship was NOT afforded a second appearance.


If there was any HOPE left, Ms. Walters' biography finished it off...

Talk about deja vu, Groundhog Day, whatever!

Ms. Walters was born and raised in Arkansas...same as he who shall remain nameless...who drove a Lexus with license plates LIL ROK 9.

Ms. Walters cites her work in Calumet City...the same location as he who shall remain nameless.

They say it is a small world...

...but Arkansas to Calumet City to Superintendent of Cairo School District Number One.

Bears repeating...

"God help us!"


Don't think it can get any worse?

My "vision":

With the withdrawal of the only viable candidate (along with the reaction of the non-employee "community" present at tonight's meeting...aka "start the search over"), I can tell you what I see when I look into my crystal ball:

  • Start the search over

  • Unable to find any qualified applicants "out there" (since any of those have already been hired or will be by the end of this month)

  • The vacancy going unfilled as Mr. Miller's days wind down

  • The Cairo Board of Education "reluctantly" decides that it will have to resort to another Interim Superintendent come July 1, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to introduce to you the one and only "he who shall remain nameless".

Odd?

Weird?

Bizarre?

Give me two-to-one odds and I'll take your bet!