Cairo Association of Teachers - Press Release
Cairo Association of Teachers - Press Release
|
|
 |
CAT Press Release
May 12, 2002 |
CAT NEWS
Cairo Association of Teachers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cairo, IL - May 12, 2002 Despite media reports that Cairo school officials are concerned about the costs of the continuing strike, Cairo Association of Teachers President Ron Newell today announced a simple solution…"Open the doors to the schools and allow students and teachers to enter."
Newell made the suggestion after several media reports that school officials were "worried as they tallied the collateral damage that could cost the district hundred's of thousands of dollars." Ironically, those reports aired one day after the District's attorney, Barney Mundorf, turned down the CAT's acceptance of the Board's own offer of a one-year agreement. Mundorf indicated in his letter that the Board's one-year offer was withdrawn and that the CAT had only one option…accept the Board's 3-year proposal that the CAT had rejected on Wednesday.
"We accepted THEIR offer," said Newell, so "Don't blame us for the loss of funds…that dog won't hunt!" Newell added that "We told the Board of Education that we would agree to make up all days missed during the strike…a concern that the Board had raised at the table. Therefore, the only money lost from the strike would be whatever they paid their attorney to run the strike."
If the District opens the schools on Monday and allows students and teachers to make up the days missed due to the strike, the District will not lose any state or federal monies. The District can also proceed with its plans to operate a summer school program and summer lunch program.
According to Newell, "If these things don't happen, the blame rests squarely with the Board of Education. The teachers agreed Friday to re-enter school on the Board's terms. Schools would have been open on Monday if the Board had not insisted on locking out teachers…and more importantly children.
