CAT Tracks for May 22, 2002 THEY CAN RUN...

BUT THEY CANNOT HIDE!

Well, after faking out the parents and public last Thursday by agreeing to "negotiate" the next day...and not doing so...the Cairo Board of Education, yesterday, decided to avoid this Thursday's meeting altogether.

Cluck, Cluck...

So much for "elected officials" seeking input and responding to the concerns of their constituents. Parents are concerned that their children are being shortchanged in their education. Many parents are concerned that by not completing the full school term, their children will not receive credit for certain courses that are beyond the control of the district administration and the Board of Education...e.g. Driver's Education and CISCO. They planned to go to the school board meeting on Thursday night and demand that the school year be extended so that their children would not lose out. The Board "withdrew" their opportunity. (Maybe the police couldn't make it this week.)

BUT...the central office at 303-34th Street is still there and as of yesterday, their telephone (734-4102) still worked. Parents and the public need to go there or call them...demand answers...demand satisfaction.

The district cannot "wave a magic wand" over these courses and bestow credit as they seem intent to do with other students and courses.On Tuesday morning, the CAT sent a letter to Superintendent Isom, reminding him of Section 2.20 of the Contractual Agreement which states: "Teachers shall maintain the right and responsibility to determine grades and other evaluations of students, and no grades or evaluations shall be changed without the teacher's authorization." The administration has no right to "give grades". We are back...it is our contractual right!

TICK, TICK, TICK...

"High Noon" approaches...will CATs accept unconditional surrender? NO! Since Barney Mundorf keeps telling the media that "the CAT did not respond to the Board's latest offer", the CAT WILL send a written response before 12:00 noon Wednesday. (Although the media was reporting 12:00 Noon FRIDAY all day today!? Maybe Barney told them first, as usual, and he forgot to formally send us notice.)

Since we still play by the rules, we will let them see our proposal first before sending it to the media. BUT...after noon, look for our proposal on our website.

KEEP THE PRESSURE ON...

As you go about your daily routine...before, during (duty free lunch "hour"), and after school...encourage one and all to visit/call the central office and/or Board members. Why won't the Board let teachers and students make up the days? The teachers are willing...why aren't you?

HOLD YOUR HEAD UP...HIGH!

You have done "the right thing"...CATs don't sell their souls to the devil...after all, we need them...we have 9 lives!