Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for March 1, 2000 CAT Responds to Negative Attack

The CAT sent the following LETTER TO THE EDITOR and asked that it appear in today's edition:

February 28, 2000

Dr. Isom appears to lay the blame for the District’s alleged financial crisis upon the teachers—a contract provision that provides for raises based upon new state aid and the fact that "Most of our staff have been here over ten years."

The contract provision in question was actually proposed by the Board of Education. THEIR OFFER was that teachers would get additional salary only if the District received additional state aid. The District would get to keep/use the majority of the new money as they saw fit. The CAT gave up guaranteed salary increases in order to obtain a long-term contract that would provide a much-needed cooling off period in labor-management relations in CSD #1. Now, we have somehow become the villains.

Another positive turned into a negative is that teachers and staff in Cairo stay with the District—that they do not move on so that the District can hire new, inexperienced, "cheaper" personnel. In the face of an ever-changing Board of Education and a succession of administrators, teachers and staff have been the one constant providing stability for the school system. Now, we read that the District would be better off if we had left.

Also disturbing is the lack of accuracy of financial information presented in this article. For example, we read that salaries in CSD #1 "comprise an estimated 85 to 88 percent of the district’s annual budget, some 10 percent more than the average percentage." During a meeting of the District’s Financial Advisory Committee early this year, Dr. Isom presented a handout that showed that the total salaries and benefits paid to ALL district employees—administrators, teachers, teacher assistants, secretaries, and custodians—was $5,220,371. IF this number is correct and IF the District has a budget of approximately $8 million as reported in the article, then some simple math clearly shows that salaries and benefits represent approximately 65% of the District’s budget—NOT 85 to 88%!

In closing, the Association hopes that the administration of CSD #1 will stop attacking its employees, provide accurate financial information, and work with teachers, staff, and the community to arrive at the goal desired by all—an educationally and financially stable school system.

Sincerely,

Ron Newell, President
Cairo Association of Teachers