In the beginning...

An AMENDED agenda was available for attendees.

The changes to the originally posted agenda are presented in bold print.

Now for a few comments...

The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. with all BOE members present, with the exception of Mary Coleman.

In response to a question by BOE President Artie McBride as to whether there were any "Examples of Excellence", CE Principal Rose Gayle Pickett responded "Not really" (a result of the imminent close of the school year.) Principal Pickett went on to provide the BOE with some of the upcoming activities at Cairo Elementary, including taking four bus loads of students to an activity in Marion, a talent show on Friday, an awards day for the K-4 students, as well as 5th-Grade promotion exercises.

Next up, the visitors section of the agenda...

CAT President De De O'Shea arose and approached the podium, first taking the time to distribute a handout to the BOE members. (The handout is presented at the bottom of this post. Page 1 is a copy of a page from the BOE-CAT Contract; Page 2 is a copy of a page from the CSD Handbook for Parents, Students, and Employees.)

The gist of CAT President O'Shea remarks was a growing concern among Cairo Elementary teachers about parents confronting teacher during the instrurctional day, verbal abuse delivered in front of students...causing students to comment that they were "afraid".

President O'Shea referred to Page 1 of her handout, where such interruptions are clearly prohibited in the first paragraph of Section 2.18. President O'Shea indicated that the Association could have filed grievances, but that the teachers were more interested in immediate corrective action being taken for the safety of employees and students than a prolonged legal battle.

Apparently, there have been five reported incidents during this school year. In addition, there have been innumerable incidents of unescorted members of the public "sticking their heads into classrooms" to say "Hi" to their children or friends of their children, or even the teacher. Although well meaning, these incidents interrupt instruction, causing the teacher to spend time getting 25 or so students back on task. (Apparently, the reported incidents were severe enough that the District's attorney was consulted and letters were sent to the offending parties informing them that such behavior will not be tolerated and that a repetition of said behavior will result in their being banned from the school for a period of one school year.)

As for the page from the District Handbook, there is an encouragement of "Parent Involvement", but there is no mention of procedures or restrictions of same. President O'Shea emphasize that the teachers were not interested in closing the door to parental involvement, simply implementing and enforcing procedures for controlling same for the benefit of all concerned.

President O'Shea indicated in her remarks that she had followed the chain of command...talking first to her principal and then the superintendent.

Superintendent Andrea Evers assured President O'Shea that the teachers' concerns were being taken very seriously and that, in fact, was the reason for the item on tonight's BOE agenda: "Set Date for Student Handbook Committee". (Superintendent Evers read a list of the names of the committee members - representatives of the various stakeholders - but I made no effort to record their names.) The first meeting of the committee will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the BOE conference room at CJSHS. (Incidentally, the meeting is for committee members only...it is not "open to the public".)

To their credit...

The BOE members seemed genuinely attentive and concerned to/with the issues raised by President O'Shea. (This is a refreshing departure from the "normal" stoney silence and negative body language usually present whenever a representative of the Association rises to the occasion.)

Report of the Superintendent...

Again, I didn't really try to "keep up". There were references to CJSHS being recognized for its academic improvement, the CHS prom (with special recognition of the clear new sound system and the "DJ" who screened and selected the songs to insure "clean" entertainment), that IMRF contributions would be increasing next year, and the impact of looming pension reform. On a very negative financial note, the state is considering cutting transportation funding from 76% to 20%...a drop from $113,000 to $21,000 for CSD. (Due to the safety hazards present in Cairo, the students will still need to be transported and so any shortfall in such funding will have to be made up from General State Aid...causing a reduction in other services.) On a positive note, Superintendent Evers praised the efforts of the Cairo TECH team and their sponsor Ryan O'Shea...securing a $500 grant and producing a tourism video. She also mentioned the Business Skills Team and the National Honor Society induction ceremony. (Whew...I know, I know. Hey, I may have missed something!)

Item #6 on the agenda: "Informational"

Superintendent Evers indicated that a delay in the payment of bills was causing the District to have to pay some "late fees". In order to alleviate this situation, the District would be moving from its current system of one "Accounts Payable" lists each month to two.

BOE President McBride added...

There will be some mandatory BOE training in the near future. Also, there will be some employee in-service to insure that employees are knowledgeable of Board Policy, as it affects their jobs. (This would be another change in "past practice". In days of yore, the District administration seemed to regard Board policy as a "state secret", refusing to place copies of the BOE Policy Manual in the building libraries...as required by the BOE-CAT Contract.)

The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:32 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session a 8:45 p.m.

Again...

What is listed on the (amended) agenda under "Requiring Action/Decision By Board of Education" happened.

A couple of comments:

• New Guidance Counselor Leah Hooper comes from Carbondale Elementary. She comes highly recommended...her reason from leaving Carbondale being the loss of a funding grant.

• New CJSHS English Teacher Nicholas Canaday..."Fresh Meat", a brand new graduate of Eastern Illinois University..."eager" to begin his career in education. (Ahhh...I - faintly - remember the day. Those were the days, my friend. You know, from the perspective of retirement: There are days that I look back fondly and miss the good times, in keeping with the message of the song phrase..."we thought they'd never end", but sadly you don't know what you've got until you miss it. Memories...light the corners of our minds. Sigh. Then, there are other days...or nights when I awaken in a cold sweat! Yes, indeed, "Those were the days, foxhole buddy...My God, we thought they would never end!!! Our other song, the theme of our latter years: "We' gotta get out of this place...if it's the last thing we ever do!!!"

  Talk about "Survivors"...

• The "Band/Choir/Elementary Music" position. The position is suppose to be "two hours each"...band and choir at CJSHS and music at CE.

• The custodial position...the vacancy created by the retirement of Carlene Davis.

The BOE voted to adjourn at 8:45 p.m.

The agenda and some related stuff follows...

CAT President O'Shea's Handouts:

---