To the Members of the Cahokia Federation of Teachers, Local #1272,
This is not the letter I had intended to write; in fact, I had a completely different opening message for you. The actions recommended by the superintendent and approved by the Cahokia Board of Education on Monday, August 8, 2011, have necessitated a different letter be written.
At the beginning of summer, the Union accepted a contract offer the district brought to us. It was acknowledged the financial stability of the district was very dire. While the District had made questionable expenditures, much of the monetary stress was actually caused by the State and Federal governments not living up to their obligations. The benefit of approving the offer, which called for a complete salary freeze, was contract language would be unchanged and our insurance left intact. The membership recognized that a change in insurance would have negated or been more costly than any raise we might have gained. Along with these terms was the promise from the Superintendent and the District Lawyer and reaffirmed by the Board of Education for financial responsibility and that no new staff or administrative positions would be created this year unless required by code or there was a desperate need by the District.
As most of you are now aware, the District created and filled two assistant principal positions, one at Wirth School of Choice and a second Assistant Principal at Cahokia High School – Main Campus. While the Wirth AP position did exist last year, the number of students never reached the threshold of 400 for the position to be created in the first place, and this year's numbers, as of this writing, are even further below the magic number. When I asked what justification there was for the recreation of this job at the cost of nearly $100,000, the President of the School Board replied the Superintendent said, “The extra administrator is needed to walk the young kids through the high school wing down to the gym.” To this ridiculous statement, I responded, “If this was truly the case, they could have hired a Security guard, a para (that could have stayed and helped in PE), or even paid someone to be a head teacher to handle any issues that might have arisen in the 3 minutes the Principal was at the gym, and it would only have cost $250 a year.” The second HS assistant is a newly created position and unwarranted. It initially was created two months ago on, as the Board’s lawyer stated “misinformation provided to the Board” or “lies” as it was succinctly put by a Board member. The union was promised it would not be filled. The High School already has two administrators, three if you count the Assistant Director of Curriculum for High School who will based at the Main campus. Most elementary buildings and ESAC have more students than either the 11th or 12th grade, and yet they have one administrator. The Freshman and Sophomore Academies, have more students per grade level and yet have only one administrator. What is the justification for this expenditure? There is none.
Please understand, the Union is not upset with either of the women who filled these positions. They are our friends, our colleagues, and they are qualified to be administrators. The argument is with the District. After asking the employees of Cahokia #187 to take another salary freeze – this time a complete freeze – it appears they have reverted to their wasteful and undisciplined spending patterns. Even the District’s own Chief Financial Officer says he does not know how we will pay for these positions.
The two Assistant Principal positions are neither vital nor justifiable and will cost the district between $170,000 and $200,000. We urge each of you to go to the Superintendent and the members of the Board of Education and demand they explain these recommendations and their vote, to reverse their decision, and implore the Board to follow fair and open procedures when creating new positions. Ask these individuals if the word of the District Administration is worth anything anymore, and please feel free to fully express your opinions.
Brent