Five BOE members were present for the meeting: Coleman, Harris, Nelson, Gooden, and McBride.

Examples of Excellence:

• Cairo Beta Club Sponsor Ryan O'Shea reported to the BOE that two Cairo High School Members were 2016 National Beta Club Scholarship Semifinalists: Faith Diel and Lorenzo C. Nelson. They are the only two students selected from Alexander and Pulaski Counties. Congratulations! (The complete 4-page listing is below. The Cairo High School students are on Page 2 under "ILLINIOS".)

• CJSHS Principal Nate Porter reported that both students and teachers were fully engaged with the new iPads and that students were already producing their own films. He said that so far, there were no damages to report. Mr. Porter further reported that several former students had spoken to students on January 13th about "life after high school"...and that this would be a continuing emphasis.

• CE Principal Rose Gayle Pickett distributed a handout to the BOE members.

• BOE Member Gabriel Harris further explored the "life after high school" theme. He also expressed concern about the lack of participation at recent PSO meetings. Superintendent Andrea Evers explained that the holidays presented other obligations, including family obligations. She and a couple of audience members emphasized past participation by faculty and staff.

Under "Report of Superintendent/Informational", there was a brief reference to the BOE packets and the "Board Biz", both of which were unavailable to the public. The only other thing mentioned was that at CJSHS, if a student was late for school (after the "Pilot Period" at 8:30 a.m.), the student did not receive an iPad that day. This was seen as an incentive for students to come to school on time and that it seemed to be working.

The BOE voted to enter Closed Session at 6:35 p.m. The BOE voted to exit Closed Session at 7:38 p.m.

The BOE then voted to approve all of the items on the Amended Agenda...

...including the added item, namely, a 2-year extension of the contract of Principal Nate Porter through Fiscal 2018, pending the draft of the contract by the BOE attorney.

Prior to adjournment, it was reported that Shawnee Community College had requested space to offer a GED class in Cairo. There was much discussion of the "history" of previous use and alleged "missing" items. There was an alternative suggestion by a BOE member, but I did not hear it. No vote was taken on the matter.

The BOE voted to adjourn at 7:48 p.m.

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