CAT Press Release May 20, 2002

CAT NEWS
Cairo Association of Teachers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2002 - Cairo, IL District 1 schools re-opened today for the first time since April 25th allowing Cairo's 900 students to return to their classrooms.

Members of the Cairo Association of Teachers (CAT), on Saturday, voted to return to work unconditionally, without a labor contract, paving the way for the resumption of the school year. Now the Cairo community is waiting for the school board to announce whether the district will make up the days lost during the labor dispute.

"Obviously the best decision the board could make for the children would be to make up the days lost," said CAT president Ron Newell.

According to Newell, every day the board agrees to make up will bring another $22,000 into the district's bank account. Schools were closed for 17 days during the shutdown.

"If we make up all the lost days, the children will get the full school year they need and the district will be able to recoup almost $400,000 in government aid. If the days aren't made up, the children, the taxpayers and the district all get cheated, so we expect the school board to make the right decision."

Newell stressed that the decision is completely in the hands of the board, as teachers agreed to return to work unconditionally, regardless of whether the days are made up.

Newell said that parents and community members should talk to the school board about the make up days.

"Parents helped end the stalemate and parents can help make sure their children get a full school year, but they have to tell the school board how they feel", said Newell.

The next meeting of the Cairo Board of Education is at 5 p.m. this Thursday, May 23, 2002.