Well, excuuuuse me!

Guess I've got some 'splaining to do...

I could be catty and say that I've got better things to do, but my daily agenda isn't all that full and everyone(at least those who do read CAT Tracks) know that I can be, well, I think the term that I have heard muttered is "prolific". (I'm sure that Leotis might like that word...might even use it in one of his future missives. Clue to Leotis..."prolific" is much greater than "flurry"!)

No...I've had the time to dash off a few "digs" at such an easy target.

So, what IS the reason for not nipping at the Superintendent's heels.

Well, to quote him from his last "15 minutes of fame" on WKRO..."I'm glad you asked!"

I'll give you two reasons:

• First of all...I've said it before, and I'll say it again...CAT does not sit around trying to dream up tales to tell about the Superintendent. As far-fetched as many of his antics might appear, CAT does NOT make this stuff up! Hell, you've read his "missives" with your own eyes. Trust me, I can't write like that...I don't want to write like that. I write to convey a message to my readers, not for the purpose of self-aggrandizement...or "obfuscation". Superintendent Swopes has been relatively quiet for the past couple of weeks...since his soirée to San Francisco. When he does not stomp on CAT tails, CAT has no tales to report.

• Secondly, and more importantly...CAT has other avenues with which to address Superintendent Swopes' repeated contempt of and violation of the contractual agreement. (Note: Even though the contract expired on June 30, 2008, the District is bound by law to abide by its terms - to "maintain the status quo" - until a new agreement is in place.) So, instead of trading verbal barbs with "the Bard", CAT is currently pursuing yet another unfair labor practice (ULP) against the District for Superintendent Swopes' refusal to allow CAT to use its Association Leave. Another ULP will probably be sought in the near future for Superintendent Swopes' refusal to honor personal leave requests. Filing a ULP was the avenue that CAT used earlier this school year when Superintendent Swopes refused to advance teachers on the salary schedule. Unfortunately, it costs the District hundreds and thousands of dollars in legal fees, but, when a person is determined to break the law, you have no other recourse. It would have been "nice" if the District would have chosen to put those dollars on the table in the form of a pay raise, but, as we have seen in the past, the District will spend money freely to fight its employees, rather than pay them what they are worth. (If you have heard a rumor of a huge lawsuit against the District...with federal subpoenas being served on BOE members and administrators - past and present - well, you heard right! Talk about fiscal irresponsibility...)

With his $100,000 salary, his free house, his $300 per month toward utilities, his weekly commute to his Chicago home, I do NOT see Superintendent Swopes being concerned one bit. He's "living large" at the expense of the hicks in Southern Illinois. Now, if the BOE were to finally make him pay his own "greens fees" to go golfing...

THAT might make a significant difference!!!

One final note...

Guess our big-city Superintendent never heard of the (paraphrased) cliché "Let sleeping CATs lie."