I. Call To Order - 6 p.m.

II. Roll Call - All BOE members were present.

III. Recognition of Guests/Comments From Public And Employees - None

IV. Approval of Previous Minutes

1. Public Hearing Minutes of December 16, 2004 - Motion made, seconded, and approved.

2. A motion was made and seconded to approve the "Regular Minutes of December 16, 2004" and the "Closed Minutes of December 16, 2004". The motion passed.

V. A motion was made and seconded to approve the "Agenda - Regular Meeting" and the "Agenda - Closed Meeting". The motion passed.

VI. Approval of Treasurer's Report - A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

VII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - BOE Member Brenda Gooden questioned the charge for refuse removal for the cottage located on the grounds of CJSHS. After a brief discussion, it was suggested that the District contact Cairo City Hall and see if said service could be removed from the billing since the service was no longer required since the cottage had been vacated. With objection noted, a motion was made and seconded to approve payment of bills/payroll.

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Student Discipline Hearing - A parent whose daughter was suspended from Cairo Jr/Sr High School for 10 days was present. The BOE voted to go into closed session at 6:12 p.m. to conduct the hearing. (When the parent exited the Board room, Sheriff Buddy Mitchell was asked to come into closed session. When Sheriff Mitchell exited, the Board remained in closed session and ate dinner.) The BOE exited closed session at 7:30 p.m.

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VIII. Informational - Superintendent Samuel Harbin commented on the following items:

1. Heating Systems: CCEC/Bennett Elementary - New boilers have been installed at both buildings and are working well. However, there are some problems at both buildings - cold areas - due to venting problems. Lorenzo Nelson is working to alleviate the problems.

2. Maintenance Progress Update - Slow and gradual improvement is being made in catching up on backlog of maintenance problems...in some instances, years of accumulation. There is still plenty yet to be done. Problems related to the reopening of the old Junior High Building - the new CCEC - have been overwhelming.

3. ROE Evaluation - January 11, 2005 - An extensive evaluation was conducted that went exceptionally well...with a couple of exceptions. The major omission was a blood pathogens policy. The school nurse is taking steps to insure a correction of the problem.

4. Collaborative Scheduling Meetings - Report - Representatives of Cairo, Century, Egyptian, and Meridian have met and all four districts are interested in a collaboration to improve offerings in classes with traditionally low enrollments, e.g. Trigonometry, Physics, Chemistry, Spanish, French, etc. The goal is to increase the number of electives available to students in our area schools. The effort would involve transporting/receiving small numbers of students to various locations. Each District would "buy space" in the other District for students receiving the instructional services. However, this collaborative effort would require the transportation of small numbers of students to neighboring schools. Dr. Harbin indicated that due to the cost of bus transportation - for such a small number of students - that he would be recommending that the District look into purchasing a 17 to 20 passenger van for transporation purposes. It could also be used for transporting groups like cheerleaders, scholar bowl team, etc. Dr. Harbin indicated that the savings over bus transportation would probably pay for the van in a couple of years. BOE members were receptive to Dr. Harbin's presentation. (There is also discussion of offering music and art at both the elementary and secondary levels.)

5. Report Cards - January 12, 2005 - Simply mentioned.

6. Work Session/Board of Education - February 3 - 10:30 A.M. - (Work an hour, do lunch, and work another hour.) The stated purpose of the session is to discuss the sports program for next year and to discuss possible reductions in personnel. Regional Superintendent Dan Anderson has expressed an interest in attending the session.

7. Checks Deposited - District Account - No comments.

$181,633.19 - State Aid -November - 2nd Payment
1,565.00 - Title V
10,019.00 - ADA - Safety Block Grant
61,315.75 - TAMES
1,256.11 - Student Lunches - ROE
4,740.00 - Rent- Cairo Jr. High Building - ROE
1,580.00 - Major Repair Fund -ROE
2,000.00 - Athletic Payment- Co-op Football- Meridian
88,878.86 - Real Estate Taxes
29,471.67 - Personal Property Replacement Tax
181,633.19 - State Aid - December - 1st payment
1,576.63 - Spec. Ed. Orphanage
933.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
1,252.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
24,841.00 - Reading Improvement
15,989.00 - Title I Reading First
997.00 - Safe & Drug Free Schools
2,455.00 - State Lunch
22,389.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
8,500.00 - Title VI - Rural Education
10,747.00 - Tech. Enhancing Education
31,472.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
50.00 - Rent - Laidlaw

IX. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Employment Recommendations:

*Hire Zena Madison as head girls track coach
*Hire Carmelia Love as assistant girls track coach
*Hire Ryan O'Shea as part-time computer instructor
*Hire Kim Lowe as substitute teacher's aide for the remainder of the school year to replace a teacher's aide who resigned in December.
*Approve new maintenance position job description and employ Lorenzo Nelson to fill the position.

Superintendent Harbin informed the BOE that Regional Superintendent Dan Anderson had approached him about permission to employ custodial services for the CCEC and that the District, in turn, would purchase custodial services from ROE. The BOE was in agreement with that proposal.

X. Closed Session
(See attachment)

XI. Old Business

XII. The BOE voted to adjourn at 7:49 p.m.

CLOSED SESSION IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, PERFORMANCE OR DISMISSAL OF INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES WHICH MAY BE OF A TEMPORARY CONFIDENTIAL NATURE, STUDENT DISCIPLINE, PLACEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, DISCUSSION OF LITIGATION PROBABLE, IMMINENT, FILED OR PENDING AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OR RELATED ISSUES.