The Monroe school board on Monday, Jan. 28:
• Learned a short segment of 15th Avenue near Monroe Middle School may become one-way for 30 minutes each morning to alleviate traffic concerns. School principal Bill Van Meer reported he met with the Monroe City Council's Public Safety Committee earlier this morning to discuss safety concerns he has on 15th Avenue before and after school. A traffic study shows up to 200 cars are dropping students off at the school in a 15-minute window each morning, while 90 to 100 cars are picking up students after school. As a result, the area is congested and some students must walk through traffic to get to the school. The school and committee approved making 15th Avenue between 14th and 15th streets northbound only from 7:30 to 8 a.m. every day. The proposal will go before the city council for approval Feb. 3. The traffic after school is less of a concern, Van Meer said.
• Decided to request a waiver from the state Department of Public Instruction to have 179 days of classroom instruction instead of the 180 days required by the state. The board has sought the waiver for the past several years, and decided this fall to not pursue the future waivers. But because the teachers' union had already devised a calendar for next school year based on 179 days, the board agreed to seek the waiver for next year only.
• Agreed to begin advertising for applicants for an open school board position in late February and early March. The application deadline will be April 3. The board's timeline includes interviews with interested people April 14 and appointment to the board April 28. School board member John Mulhall is not seeking re-election, creating the open seat.
• Created an Instructional Aide position at Parkside Elementary School to work with the English Language Learning students. The school has two ELL aides. The position will cost the district about $21,000 in salary and benefits for the remainder of the school year.
• Accepted a donation of $4,200 from the Northside PTO for amplification systems at the school and an anonymous donation of $4,000, with $2,000 going to the Monroe High School drama program and $2,000 to the Madrigal Singers.
• Learned a short segment of 15th Avenue near Monroe Middle School may become one-way for 30 minutes each morning to alleviate traffic concerns. School principal Bill Van Meer reported he met with the Monroe City Council's Public Safety Committee earlier this morning to discuss safety concerns he has on 15th Avenue before and after school. A traffic study shows up to 200 cars are dropping students off at the school in a 15-minute window each morning, while 90 to 100 cars are picking up students after school. As a result, the area is congested and some students must walk through traffic to get to the school. The school and committee approved making 15th Avenue between 14th and 15th streets northbound only from 7:30 to 8 a.m. every day. The proposal will go before the city council for approval Feb. 3. The traffic after school is less of a concern, Van Meer said.
• Decided to request a waiver from the state Department of Public Instruction to have 179 days of classroom instruction instead of the 180 days required by the state. The board has sought the waiver for the past several years, and decided this fall to not pursue the future waivers. But because the teachers' union had already devised a calendar for next school year based on 179 days, the board agreed to seek the waiver for next year only.
• Agreed to begin advertising for applicants for an open school board position in late February and early March. The application deadline will be April 3. The board's timeline includes interviews with interested people April 14 and appointment to the board April 28. School board member John Mulhall is not seeking re-election, creating the open seat.
• Created an Instructional Aide position at Parkside Elementary School to work with the English Language Learning students. The school has two ELL aides. The position will cost the district about $21,000 in salary and benefits for the remainder of the school year.
• Accepted a donation of $4,200 from the Northside PTO for amplification systems at the school and an anonymous donation of $4,000, with $2,000 going to the Monroe High School drama program and $2,000 to the Madrigal Singers.