MONROE - At a meeting Dec. 12, the Monroe school board:
• Observed a moment of silence for former board member Scott Schmidt, who died on Dec. 8. Board president Bob Erb said Schmidt exemplified the mentality of a public servant. "We'll miss him tremendously as a friend and member of the board," Erb said.
• Was thanked by student Skye Dickson during the public comment portion of the meeting. Dickson, who attended with her father, received a Gifted and Talented scholarship which allowed her to attend a camp in Stevens Point.
• Approved the purchase of a John Deere tractor/snow blower for Northside Elementary School from Sloan Implement for $34,392. It will replace a 20-year-old tractor/snow blower and should decrease salt usage, according to Tom Rufenacht, director of buildings and grounds.
• Recognized December Lamp of Learning Staff Excellence Award winner Tara Stietz, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School math teacher.
• Accepted donations of $3,000 from AT&T for the Monroe High School Link Crew program and $2,500 from the Abraham Lincoln PTO for the Backpack Buddies program.
At a meeting Dec. 12, the board's finance committee received an update on the "E-rate" switch project from Business Administrator Ron Olson. The federal E-rate program provides discounted services, including telecommunications and internet projects, to schools and libraries. The district applied to the program to replace its network data switches and was approved to have 70 percent of its costs - about $170,000 - covered by federal funds. The district's portion of the costs is $76,000. Olson said all five schools should be getting their new switches over spring break.
Erb was absent.
- Susan Endres
• Observed a moment of silence for former board member Scott Schmidt, who died on Dec. 8. Board president Bob Erb said Schmidt exemplified the mentality of a public servant. "We'll miss him tremendously as a friend and member of the board," Erb said.
• Was thanked by student Skye Dickson during the public comment portion of the meeting. Dickson, who attended with her father, received a Gifted and Talented scholarship which allowed her to attend a camp in Stevens Point.
• Approved the purchase of a John Deere tractor/snow blower for Northside Elementary School from Sloan Implement for $34,392. It will replace a 20-year-old tractor/snow blower and should decrease salt usage, according to Tom Rufenacht, director of buildings and grounds.
• Recognized December Lamp of Learning Staff Excellence Award winner Tara Stietz, Abraham Lincoln Elementary School math teacher.
• Accepted donations of $3,000 from AT&T for the Monroe High School Link Crew program and $2,500 from the Abraham Lincoln PTO for the Backpack Buddies program.
At a meeting Dec. 12, the board's finance committee received an update on the "E-rate" switch project from Business Administrator Ron Olson. The federal E-rate program provides discounted services, including telecommunications and internet projects, to schools and libraries. The district applied to the program to replace its network data switches and was approved to have 70 percent of its costs - about $170,000 - covered by federal funds. The district's portion of the costs is $76,000. Olson said all five schools should be getting their new switches over spring break.
Erb was absent.
- Susan Endres