MONROE — The School District of Monroe Board of Education is preparing to move forward on multiple fronts that concern the entire district.

At the March 27 Regular Board of Education meeting, the school board discussed filling a vacancy in the school board, the potential next steps in regards to the Nov. 2022 referendum, and the future of mental health care across the district. 

Care Solace, a mental health navigation system, is potentially the next mental health care service the district will go forward with over the next few months. 

Care Solace already serves about 4,500 districts across the country, including four million students, families and staff. The cost would be free to the district through a grant, and access to all students, staff and their families would be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

According to Joe Monroe, director of pupil services, 95% of those seeking care will be able to meet in-person, instead of just a telehealth connection. 

Board president Rich Deprez gave a brief update on the referendum that is currently paused due to ongoing litigation. He said that for the May 8 meeting, board members will discuss the investigation of running another public survey. The board is hoping to re-engage with the public. 

After the $88 million referendum passed in November, a higher-than-expected tax increase cause the public off-guard, leading to initial backlash and eventually a lawsuit against the district hoping to overturn the public vote. Twice in a three month period in a special meeting of the electors, new land purchases — which would host the new high school — were turned down.

The board, currently down to eight members after Teri Ellefson stepped down in early March, has three seats up for election in the Tuesday, April 4 election. Nikki Austin and Tim Wolff are re-running for election, while Cheryl McGuire is not running for re-election. 

In the April 10 meeting, the board will discuss filling Ellefson’s seat. The position will be appointed and approved by the board in a public meeting, and the term will last for one year and be filled in the April 2024 election.

Interested individuals may drop off a letter of interest and a biographical sketch/resume to Cindy Rupnow at the District Administrative Center, 925 16th Avenue, Suite 3 in Monroe. For any questions, call 608-328-7109. The district will accept applications until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 23. All applicants must be residents of the School District of Monroe.