Comments:

Sheila Nelson is the new BOE President.

Vernon Stubblefield is the new BOE Vice President.

Brenda Gooden and Mary Coleman were re-elected as BOE Secretary and BOE Treasurer respectively.

Comments:

Rick Foster (?), a representative of the First Student bus company addressed the BOE to state that he was looking forward to continuing the current relationship with the Cairo School District, as well a helping the District during the coming trying times (the public housing crisis.) He asked for any questions or concerns. New BOE member Rodney Moore indicated that he had some of both, but Superintendent Andrea Evers interjected that the BOE would gather questions and concerns for their May meeting.

Superintendent Evers then went on to discuss the impact on the District of closing public housing. She indicated that she had had several meetings and made many contacts...

...including with developers who have refurbished old school buildings in other communities, turning them into residential apartments.

Superintendent Evers also indicated that much uncertainty remains because HUD has yet to set the beginning of the 120-day notice for residents to move out of McBride and Elmwood.

Superintendent Evers also indicated that she has requested a meeting with Governor Rauner to discuss the situation. She has had several conversations with State Senator Fowler. She also indicated that she has been contacted by representatives of CNN, so the "Cairo Story" may be going national. In fact, she stated that next Monday, she and a 6th-Grade student would be doing a Skype interview, the prompted by the 6th-Grade letters in The Southern Illinoisan.)

Superintendent Evers alerted the BOE members that she anticipated several Special BOE Meetings in the coming months to discuss and plan for the impact of the closing of the housing projects on the District.

Superintendent Evers also made several announcements of end of school events. Some of them were:

• Junior-Senior Prom - April 29th

• Elementary Prom - May 6th

• Senior Banquet - May 11th

• CHS Graduation - Saturday, May 20th, at 10 a.m.

• CJHS Graduation - May 21st

The final topic of discussion prior to closed session was "Rodney Moore - Housing".

Mr. Moore was seeking the BOE's support of giving potential developers a tax abatement to encourage the building of affordable residential housing in Cairo, e.g. no taxes for a period of say 10 years. This development would be on properties that are currently paying no taxes, so no loss of current property taxes, with the possibility of collecting taxes in the future. Mr. Moore indicated that he had approach the Alexander County Commissioners and they were responsive to the concept if not the length of the abatement. For the effort to succeed, all six taxing districts would have to come together and approve. The BOE gave Mr. Moore their consent to "explore" the concept.

For more details, you will have to await the posting of the official BOE minutes next month.

The BOE entered Closed Session at 6:49 p.m. The BOE exited Closed Session at 7:40 p.m.

The BOE voted to accept the resignation of Mary Beth Goff, effective at the end of the current school year.

The BOE voted to adjourn at 7:44 p.m.

To read the official minutes of the March 16th Regular BOE Meeting...