Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for October 25, 1999 WHO'S IN CHARGE?

TEACHERS' MEETING - YES...NO...?

The brainstorming session that was to take place Friday afternoon did not! The Association requested the meeting on October 15th so that there would be time to notify all affected--including parents, if it were held on parent-teacher conference day. Unfortunately, the District administration did NOT get the word out to parents or teachers. I confirmed the time and location with Mr. Henderson on Friday prior to distributing the CAT Tracks. (Incidentally, Mr. Henderson was very cooperative in offering the use of the CJHS gym lobby for the meeting and making CJHS teachers available for the meeting.) However, parents were still arriving for conferences at 1:30 p.m.--including at the scheduled meeting site. The Bennett Elementary School faculty members were not directed to attend the meeting--they had set times to meet with parents. The Superintendent was out of town, taking a vacation day. Therefore, the meeting was NOT held. WHO'S IN CHARGE? We can only hope that this lack of planning and cooperation are NOT indicative of a lack of concern or sense of urgency on the part of the District administration to resolve this matter. The education of a large number of students is being affected with each day of delay. Some parents--including at the school board meeting--are talking of taking their children out of Cairo Public Schools. This should be the Cairo School District's Number One priority, but it does NOT seem to be.

CHS COPIER - YES...NO...?

On October 15th, the Board Team indicated that it would authorize movement of the CHS copier to CJHS. On Friday, October 22nd, we received a memo from the high school principal that THE COPIER WOULD NOT BE MOVED! This was done without any consultation with the Association. Are we seeing signs of back-sliding on commitments made during impact bargaining, or are we seeing signs that the Board Team does not have real authority? WHO'S IN CHARGE?

RESTROOM BREAKS - YES...NO...?

The Association Team was assured on October 12th that arrangements had been made the previous week for "brief respites" due to the longer class periods (1 hour, 40 minutes). When we reported that these "respites" had NOT been implemented, we were promised that it would be immediately corrected. IT WAS NOT! Two days later, CHS teachers DID receive a memo from the principal directing teachers to provide STUDENTS with supervised restroom breaks. The Association Team brought this to the attention of the Board Team on October 15th and was assured that THIS would be corrected. On October 22nd, CHS teachers received several memos--including the "NO COPIER" memo--but there was STILL no mention of restroom breaks for teachers! Has the Board Team changed its mind has it been over-ruled by another party? AGAIN--WHO'S IN CHARGE?

RELOCATABLE BUILDINGS - YES...NO...?

We have heard nothing...The CAT Bargaining Team WILL follow up on the ISBE representative's offer to help. The District--WE--cannot afford to let this offer of assistance go unanswered. SOMEONE MUST TAKE CHARGE! This could be our best hope--our ONLY hope for quality education this school year.

---