I. Call To Order - 6:00 p.m.

II. Roll Call - Griggs, Burris, Brown, Huff, and Gooden were present. (Posey arrived at 6:05 p.m.; Mallory arrived at 6:10 p.m.)

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

IV. Approval of Previous Minutes - A motion was made and seconded to approve the Regular Minutes and the Closed Minutes of March 17, 2005. The motion passed.

V. A motion was made and seconded to approve an amended agenda. The motion passed.

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

VII. Approval of Payment of Bills/Payroll - A motion was made and seconded to approve payment of bills/payroll. The motion passed.

President Griggs asked that prior to going to the Superintendent's informational section that the Board pause to recognize Berlene Jones for her service to the Board. President Griggs presented a plaque to Mrs. Jones, pictures were taken, and Mrs. Jones addressed the Board...expressing her pleasure at serving and wishing the Board well in the future.

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

1. School Boards Dinner Meeting - April 22 - 5:30 P.M. - Riverlore

2. Estimate to paint all areas of Cairo Jr/Sr High School except gymnasium and locker rooms - $33,120. Dr Harbin indicated that this was a first step in a general effort to refurbish the schools.

3. Tentative Schedules - Cairo School District - 2005-2006. Dr. Harbin distributed copies of the CJSHS schedule, commenting that additions for the new year would include Spanish, Trigonometry, Chemistry, one period of Art, and one period of Music.

4. Budget Projections to include some staffing-supplies-materials. Dr. Harbin indicated that meetings had been held this week confirming that budget projections allowed for increased staffing and the purchase of needed materials, while maintaining District solvency.

5. SIDEZ After School Tutoring Program. A motion was made and seconded to approve continue the current collaborative effort with SIDEZ. The motion passed.

6. Food Service Contract Renewal Recommendation - Will be considered at the May Board of Education meeting. Dr. Harbin will send BOE members a more detailed proposal for their review.

7. Checks Deposited - District Account - No comments.

$181,633.19 - State Aid - February - 1st Payment
31,472.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
1,252.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
1,698.00 - State Lunch
12,000.00 - Title II - Teacher Qua.
5,152.00 - TAP Grant Payment
3,894.00 - Driver Education
62,204.00 - Title I Low Income
2,096.00 - Title I Reading First
181,633.19 - State Aid - March - 1st Payment
24,822.36 - Federal Lunch
13,924.21 - Federal Breakfast
2,583.25- State Lunch
5,152.00 - TAP Grant Payment
6,974.00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
1,252,00 - Early Childhood Block Grant
163,432.00 - Title I Low Income
64,811.00 - Title I Low Income
39,627.00 - Title I Reading First
50.00 - Laidlaw - Rent

IX. Requiring Action/Decisions By Board of Education

1. Approve resignations...due to retirement...of Mary Susan Worthington and Mildred Triantis, effective June 30, 2005. - A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

2. Review/Approve revised job description of Athletic Director...to become effective when approved. (This was tabled until the remaining listed items were considered.)

3. Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony - Cairo Jr/Sr High School. The ceremony was NOT held last year...having been lost "in transition"...with the consolidation of the Junior and Senior High Schools. Following a somewhat heated exchange among BOE members, a motion was made, seconded, and approved to have the Eighth Grade Graduation Ceremony this year with details to be determined.

4. Student Representation - Cairo Jr./Sr. High School to attend Board of Education meetings. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

5. Interview/employ Athletic Director - Tabled until closed session.

6. Interview/employ Recording Secretary - Tabled until closed session.

7. Approve School Calendar Amendment - 2004-2005. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to drop the five emergency days and set the last day of school as May 26th.

Approve School Calendar - 2005-2006. Dr. Harbin distributed copies of the "common calendar" that had been developed for Cairo, Century, Egyptian, and Meridian for the purpose of shared classes. All schools will open on August 15th and observe the same holidays. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to adopt the common calendar.

8. Transfer of Funds - Apparently, some monies were inadvertently deposited into the wrong fund. Therefore, a BOE vote was required to legally transfer the monies to the proper accounts. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

9. Recommendation to adjust food allowances for students/district employees effective July 1, 2005. Meal allowances for students will be raised from the current $3 to $5. The meal allowance for District employees will be $8 per six-hour period - $32 per day. It was also noted that when employees travel to large cities that additional allowances shall be made as long as receipts are provided. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

10. Audubon Print - SIU Museum Recommendation. A certified Audubon print in the possession of CSD #1 shall be placed in the SIU museum for public display. The print will remain the property of CSD #1 and a plaque will accompany the print identifying it as on loan from CSD #1. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

Dr. Harbin indicated that he wished to inform the BOE of an item that was not on the agenda...namely, that the NAACP was going to take a group of our students to Chicago State University for the purpose of exploring tuition free education. The NAACP had asked for District monetary support. Dr. Harbin recommended that the BOE make a $400 donation to support the effort. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.

At this point, Dr. Harbin returned to the issue of the revised job description of Athletic Director. The job description was read; there was no discussion. Prior to the vote, Dr. Harbin indicated that with the passage of this motion, coaches would no longer be fired en mass each year by the BOE...that job performance would be evaluated by the Athletic Director and the Principal and unless the performance was found lacking, the coaching positions would now be continuing. A motion was made to approve the revised job description, seconded, and approved.

X. Closed Session

The BOE voted to enter closed session at 6:52 p.m. The BOE voted to exit closed session at 8:48 p.m.

1. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to hire Bobby Mayberry as Athletic Director.

2. A motion was made, seconded, and approved to hire Valerie Hall as BOE Recording Secretary.

XI. Old Business - None

XII. The BOE voted to adjourn at 8:50 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.