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"Minutes":

1. All BOE members were present.

2. Examples of Excellence: CHS Principal Nate Porter rose to inform the BOE of two recent field trips, one to the University of Kentucky and one to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville for the purpose of exposing students to education opportunities beyond high school. The former, a college setting, the latter opportunities in conservation. Principal Porter said that he was looking for more opportunities for students in the future.

3. Individuals Addressing the Board: Three parents, obviously highly educated and passionate about their beliefs, took turns addressing the BOE about their concerns. The main focus was on a perceived lack and/or use of textbooks and homework. Superintendent Andrea Evers tried to explain that the District was committed to the Common Core curriculum and that the available textbooks were not aligned to those standards and that teachers were using online materials. Since all students do not have Internet access at home, this required teachers to try to complete work during class time, thus the lack of homework. (I relating this as best I can. None of this should be considered verbatim.) The parents did not appear satisfied with these explanations and expressed frustration that the students came home with no school work to do...like they themselves had done when they went to school. One parent related to the BOE the adage that: "An idol mind is the devil's workshop." Following a respectful if intense discussion, one of the BOE members basically shut it down by saying: "I don't want to be rude, but it seems that we are rehashing the same thing now."

Prior to the "shut down", one of the parents expressed a need for more after-school activities. Superintendent Evers indicated that she was all for that, but that the teachers and the administration didn't have a crystal ball to know what students might want...that if students had something they wanted to do, they needed to let the teachers/administration know and they would try to arrange it.

That same parent also asked about offering dual credit courses for the students. Superintendent Evers indicated that a survey of the students had been conducted at the beginning of the year and that only two students expressed an interest.

(This item on the agenda which usually has no one wanting to speak took until 6:45 p.m., putting a rush on the remainder of the regular agenda in order to start the Special Meeting with Patrick Rice of the Illinois Association of School Boards.)

4. Approval of Consent Agenda: Done in one motion with not questions or comments.

5 & 6. Report of Superintendent: This is where we put it in high gear to meet the 7 p.m. deadline. Many announcements were made by referring to the "Board Biz" handout (not available to the public) and items "in your Board packets." The only one that I caught was the one she started with which was that the Cairo High School Beta Club Induction will be held Tuesday, November 16th, at 6 p.m. (I believe in the CJSHS library.)

7. Other: Just what was listed on the agenda. (Actually, one mention was made later about checks...that the District no longer received paper checks from the ROE (now that ROE 02 has gone out of business). Instead, the money from the state is electronically deposited in the District's account.

8. Closed Session: Oh Happy Day! Since there were no resignations or hirings, there was not need to go into Closed Session to discuss personnel.

9. Requiring Action/Decisions by the BOE: What you see (on the agenda) is what you got.

10. Old Business: This is where the comment about the "no paper checks/electronic deposits" was made. BOE member Vernon Stubblefield made inquiry as to "a fight". Not much was forthcoming, so if you want details, ask a student...they know everything!

11. The BOE voted to adjourn at 7 p.m. (Patrick Rice of IASB took the stage...Madam CAT President and I exited.)