At its meeting Monday, March 26, the Monroe School Board:
- Accepted the resignation of board member Laurie Genz Prien, who has served on the board five years.
- Recognized Erica Zentner, a second-grade teacher at Northside Elementary School, with the district's monthly Lamp of Learning Staff Excellence Award.
- Authorized approving up to $2 million in general obligation refunding bonds. Business administrator Ron Olson said the bonds would refinance debt carried from unfunded participants dating back to the beginning of the Wisconsin Retirement System several decades ago. The district has been paying additional money into the system to make up for staff already employed when the system began, and is scheduled to do so until the debt is paid off in 2024. Olson said the district could save about $125,000 over the next 12 years by refinancing. Monday's measure authorizes Olson to proceed with refinancing when interest rates are most favorable.
- Eliminated the student nonathletic pass and student athletics/activities pass for next year, which cost $20 and $60, respectively. Olson said offering the special passes "didn't make a lot of sense" and created issues with royalties charged for performances. "It would be better and easier if they went away," he told the board. Other student and athletic fees for next year will remain the same as this year.
- Accepted the retirement of Joyce Martin, Monroe High School LMC specialist, and the resignation of Allison Carroll, a first-grade teacher at Parkside Elementary School, both effective at the end of the school year. Carroll informed the board she was resigning to accept a two-year teaching position in Abu Dhabi.
- Granted a one-year leave of absence to Nikki Saugstad, art teacher at Parkside. Saugstad requested the leave to "pursue making and studying artwork." Leaves of absence are allowed under teacher contracts.
- Approved two preliminary layoff notices. The layoff notices are required to inform staff of potential layoffs. A final decision will be made in May, after the open enrollment period ends.
- Accepted the resignation of board member Laurie Genz Prien, who has served on the board five years.
- Recognized Erica Zentner, a second-grade teacher at Northside Elementary School, with the district's monthly Lamp of Learning Staff Excellence Award.
- Authorized approving up to $2 million in general obligation refunding bonds. Business administrator Ron Olson said the bonds would refinance debt carried from unfunded participants dating back to the beginning of the Wisconsin Retirement System several decades ago. The district has been paying additional money into the system to make up for staff already employed when the system began, and is scheduled to do so until the debt is paid off in 2024. Olson said the district could save about $125,000 over the next 12 years by refinancing. Monday's measure authorizes Olson to proceed with refinancing when interest rates are most favorable.
- Eliminated the student nonathletic pass and student athletics/activities pass for next year, which cost $20 and $60, respectively. Olson said offering the special passes "didn't make a lot of sense" and created issues with royalties charged for performances. "It would be better and easier if they went away," he told the board. Other student and athletic fees for next year will remain the same as this year.
- Accepted the retirement of Joyce Martin, Monroe High School LMC specialist, and the resignation of Allison Carroll, a first-grade teacher at Parkside Elementary School, both effective at the end of the school year. Carroll informed the board she was resigning to accept a two-year teaching position in Abu Dhabi.
- Granted a one-year leave of absence to Nikki Saugstad, art teacher at Parkside. Saugstad requested the leave to "pursue making and studying artwork." Leaves of absence are allowed under teacher contracts.
- Approved two preliminary layoff notices. The layoff notices are required to inform staff of potential layoffs. A final decision will be made in May, after the open enrollment period ends.