CAT Tracks for May 17, 2002 PUBLIC FORCES MEETING

BUT...DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP

An over-flow crowd of parents, teachers, and community members gathered at the Board of Education office on Thursday night to express frustration at the lengthy work stoppage. The vast majority spoke in support of the teachers and urged the Board to sit down with the teachers, negotiate a fair settlement, and get kids back in school.

Board President Joe Griggs arbitrarily cut off the public session and moved the Board into closed session. After approximately a half an hour, CAT representatives were called in and informed that the Board would meet and negotiate at 1 p.m. on Friday. When parents complained...wanting to know why the two sides couldn't go ahead and negotiate on Thursday night, they were informed that the entire Board team was not present. (The only member not present was the Board's attorney, Barney Mundorf...wouldn't want him to miss out on any money! Barney was NOT there when the Board reached agreement with the secretaries or the custodians. Hmmmm...could it be that BARNEY is the problem instead of the "big bad teachers"?)

The Board came out of closed session, conducted some business, and then Joe Griggs asked for a motion to adjourn. Former Board President, Vernon Stubblefield, asked President Griggs to give any more community members who wanted to speak an opportunity to do so. A couple more did...then Mr. Stubblefield indicated that he had some remarks to make. He proceeded to make several derogatory remarks about teachers...only caring about money...not really caring about children. At the conclusion of his remarks, he was given an enthusiastic round of applause...by the members of the Board of Education.

Sooooo...don't get your hopes up for Friday's negotiations session. From the reaction of the Board members, they continue to hold their certificated staff in very low esteem, which does not bode well for good faith negotiations. It would appear that the Board's call for negotiations may have been a very simple ploy to get rid of the "audience". But, then these are the people who had "armed guards" for Thursday night's meeting. (An Illinois state trooper was parked across the street for the entire meeting. Wonder if he will be back for Friday's negotiations?)

P.S. After the meeting...and possibly a telephone call to Barney...Superintendent Isom informed the CAT negotiating team that Friday's negotiations session would not be 1 p.m. after all...make that 2 p.m. Hey, it takes a while to get to Cairo from Collinsville...probably takes the "taxi" route...run up that "money meter"!

SKIP THE EARLY SHIFT!

If they can move back the starting time of a negotiations session demanded by the parents...from Thursday night, to 1 p.m., to 2 p.m., we can move picketing from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. We will then have the "noon" meeting at 11 a.m., do lunch, and then picket the central office in the afternoon.