'Minutes':

Date: 06/27/16 21:57:50
To: Ron Newell
Subject: Community Meeting Minutes

Cairo Superintendent of Schools Andrea Evers indicated that the Cairo School District would open on August 12th as scheduled and that there would be enough funding for the 2016-2017 school year.

Superintendent Evers then turned discussion over to Mr. Gabrielle Harris, CSD #1 BOE Vice President (while BOE Member Vernon Stubblefield managed discussion documentation - chart flipping and documenting suggestions on said chart.)

Mr. Harris discussed the responsibilities of the BOE:

What are the responsibilities of the BOE?
• Advocate for kids

• Choose Administrator

• Conduct daily duties

• Financial stewards

• support staff/faculty

• checks/balances of procedures

Mr. Harris then presented the following from the Illinois Association of School Boards:

Six Principles of Effective School Boards
1. The BOE clarifies the district’s purpose (mission statement?)

2. The BOE connects with community.

3. The BOE employs a superintendent.

4. The BOE delegates authority.

5. The BOE monitors performance.

6. The BOE takes responsibility for itself.

Then, Mr. Harris opened the floor to comments/discussion on the qualities of a good principal (qualities the community would like to see in the future):

• Love for children

• From local area; “knows our kids”

• Longevity (an administrator to stay a long period time)

• Locally experienced

• Giving and Talented

• Knows how to connect with youth

• Parental involvement

• No Favoritism (demonstrates consistency with regard to behavior)

• Academic Goals

• Respect and Discipline

• Knows technology

• Not here for financial gain

• Unites community

• Problem solver

• Firm—consistency

• Maintain Safety

• Education

• Citizenship

Members of the audience indicated that they wanted a public forum to discuss problems with new principals after hiring, similar to this evening’s forum.

Superintendent Evers announced that there would be another forum with hotdogs and hamburgers for the community to welcome the new principals by August 1st, that they hope to have the new principals announced by mid-July.

Gabrielle Harris indicated that parents need to be active participants as parents, not just complain, but they need to get involved. He said that joining the Parent-Staff Organization (PSO) would be a start to be involved, and not just attend meetings, but volunteer and become involved.

Former BOE Member Rodney Moore indicated to Gabrielle Harris that he wanted change at CJSHS to avoid the behavior problems from last year.

Attendee Mrs. Michael Pryor indicated that she wanted to see more academic involvement in the schools so that students could read on the appropriate reading level and compete at least at Shawnee College when they graduate. She wants to see a reason to cheer for the Pilots instead of seeing them walk the streets and enter liquor stores.