The Cairo Board of Education held its Regular Meeting on Monday, November 17th at 6 p.m.

An AMENDED agenda was available for attendees. You will find it immediately below, followed by the "minutes":

"Minutes":

1. Coleman, Moore, Nelson, Burris, Gooden, and McBride answered roll call. (Harris arrived at 6:10 p.m.)

2. Examples of Excellence: CJSHS Principal Zena Madison had the honors. She distributed a handout (see below) and made some comments.

3. No "visitors".

4. Consent Agenda was approved without change or comment.

5 & 6. Report of Superintendent/Informational:

• CE and CJSHS Principals Madison and Rose Gayle Pickett attended an IPA (Illinois Principals Association) Conference which was focused on reducing negativity.

• The District's PERA (Performance Evaluation Reform Act) has met three times so far, trying to develop a performance evaluation tool, which by state law must include at least 25% based upon student performance on state standardized tests. (CAT Tracks Editor's Note: Mandated even though educational research clearly shows that it is not reliable or valid and the whole damn country is in an uproar over the Obama Administrations strong-arm tactics to impose it, forcing even Bill Gates to call for a delay. Oh well, it takes a while for "trickle down education" to reach the likes of Cairo.) Anyway, in February, an Illinois Education Association (they who collaborated with the enemy) specialist will be in Cairo to present at a half-day in-service to District employees. The only good thing about this that I see, it shows the District's willingness to work with "the evil teachers' union.)

• The Junior High School Beta Club Induction that was scheduled for tonight (and snowed out) has been re-scheduled for this Wednesday, November 19th, at 6 p.m.

• Superintendent Andrea Evers commented that District enrollment figures had been included in the BOE packets.

7. As shown on the agenda.

8. The BOE voted to enter Closed Session at 6:13 p.m. The BOE voted to exit Closed Session at 7:15 p.m.

9. Action by the BOE - As listed on the amended agenda. (In addition, the BOE set a training session for December 11th to begin at 5 p.m. and run to 10 p.m. (a double catch-up session.)

10. BOE Member Rodney Moore expressed his appreciation as to how the BOE has come together to move the District forward. That said, Mr. Moore expressed his wish that the BOE and the teachers union could come together, compromise, and resolve their contract issues.

11. The BOE voted to adjourn at 7:25.

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