MONROE - At a meeting March 23, the Monroe school board:
• Discussed adopting a resolution and/or sending out letters to community members about the state budget's impact on schools. Administrators provided examples of resolutions and letters used by other Wisconsin school districts for board members to decide what they would want in their own. Most members said the board should send out both a resolution to state legislators and a letter to the community to express the need for more state funding.
"It sends a message, and I think we need to do both. ... It's about as much as we can do" to get the message across, board member Dan Bartholf said.
"Having written our legislators ... it has no impact on the legislative level, I understand that, but I think it's a good thing to do anyway," board member Les Bieneman said. "It covers that base. And I think it is good to start getting things out to the community. We are in trouble, and I think it's time to start getting that word out."
District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner said she would get a resolution and letter to board members probably by the April 13 meeting, to be sent out after making any adjustments.
• Approved the list of scholarships for seniors graduating this year. The Scholarship Committee, including district administration, Monroe High School counselors, school board members and Community Foundation representatives, determines the scholarship recipients. About 75 students won scholarships this year, for a total of just more than $85,000. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony May 13.
• Chose Sysco Foods as the district's prime food vendor for the 2015-16 school year for a reported annual savings of about $4,500.
• Renewed teacher contracts for 2015-16.
• Approved the issuance of notices of non-renewal for individual contracts for 2015-16.
• Accepted a $700 donation from Monsignor Thomas F. Campion Special Projects Fund to go toward the purchase of tickets for first- and second-grade students at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy, Parkside Elementary and Northside Elementary to attend the "Velveteen Rabbit" at the Madison Children's Theater on May 20.
• Approved the requests of two students to enroll in the district and another student to leave the district.
• Went into closed session to discuss personnel issues.
Bob Erb was absent, but listened over speakerphone.
At a previous meeting, the school board:
• Added two minutes to the end of the school day at Monroe Middle School, which has been in effect since March 23. The change moves dismissal from 3:18 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. for the rest of the school year to meet the yearly time requirement. Despite the snow day on March 23, the last day of school will still be June 5, but it will be a full day instead of a half day, according to Hirsbrunner.
• Approved the retirements of Nadine Whiteman, Monroe Middle School science teacher; Marsha Soper, Parkside Elementary school counselor; Nancee Bue, Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy counselor; Jane Studer, Northside Elementary first-grade teacher; Bill Dehn, MHS math teacher; and Milo Whitehead, Northside custodian.
• Accepted the resignation of Elizabeth Mielke, district special education driver.
• Accepted a donation of $1,000 from Kiwanis Club for the replacement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Scott Schmidt was absent from the March 9 meeting.
- Susan Endres
• Discussed adopting a resolution and/or sending out letters to community members about the state budget's impact on schools. Administrators provided examples of resolutions and letters used by other Wisconsin school districts for board members to decide what they would want in their own. Most members said the board should send out both a resolution to state legislators and a letter to the community to express the need for more state funding.
"It sends a message, and I think we need to do both. ... It's about as much as we can do" to get the message across, board member Dan Bartholf said.
"Having written our legislators ... it has no impact on the legislative level, I understand that, but I think it's a good thing to do anyway," board member Les Bieneman said. "It covers that base. And I think it is good to start getting things out to the community. We are in trouble, and I think it's time to start getting that word out."
District Administrator Cory Hirsbrunner said she would get a resolution and letter to board members probably by the April 13 meeting, to be sent out after making any adjustments.
• Approved the list of scholarships for seniors graduating this year. The Scholarship Committee, including district administration, Monroe High School counselors, school board members and Community Foundation representatives, determines the scholarship recipients. About 75 students won scholarships this year, for a total of just more than $85,000. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony May 13.
• Chose Sysco Foods as the district's prime food vendor for the 2015-16 school year for a reported annual savings of about $4,500.
• Renewed teacher contracts for 2015-16.
• Approved the issuance of notices of non-renewal for individual contracts for 2015-16.
• Accepted a $700 donation from Monsignor Thomas F. Campion Special Projects Fund to go toward the purchase of tickets for first- and second-grade students at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy, Parkside Elementary and Northside Elementary to attend the "Velveteen Rabbit" at the Madison Children's Theater on May 20.
• Approved the requests of two students to enroll in the district and another student to leave the district.
• Went into closed session to discuss personnel issues.
Bob Erb was absent, but listened over speakerphone.
At a previous meeting, the school board:
• Added two minutes to the end of the school day at Monroe Middle School, which has been in effect since March 23. The change moves dismissal from 3:18 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. for the rest of the school year to meet the yearly time requirement. Despite the snow day on March 23, the last day of school will still be June 5, but it will be a full day instead of a half day, according to Hirsbrunner.
• Approved the retirements of Nadine Whiteman, Monroe Middle School science teacher; Marsha Soper, Parkside Elementary school counselor; Nancee Bue, Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy counselor; Jane Studer, Northside Elementary first-grade teacher; Bill Dehn, MHS math teacher; and Milo Whitehead, Northside custodian.
• Accepted the resignation of Elizabeth Mielke, district special education driver.
• Accepted a donation of $1,000 from Kiwanis Club for the replacement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
Scott Schmidt was absent from the March 9 meeting.
- Susan Endres