MONROE - At a meeting Monday, the Monroe school board:
• Accepted resignations by instructional staff members: Eric Wheeler, Monroe High School technology/engineering teacher; Stephanie Knellwolf, MHS math teacher; Stevy Held, MHS English teacher; and Danya Ward, MHS Spanish teacher.
• Hired instructional staff members: Alicia Kubly, Monroe Middle School technology teacher; Aaron Heim, Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy guidance; Kaylee Swenson, MMS eighth-grade English teacher; Eric Kassebaum, MMS sixth-grade math teacher.
• Discussed having a sign-up sheet for board members to volunteer to attend back-to-school events during the end of July and early August. Member Brian Keith said he'd like more board members to be at events to encourage more communication between the public and the school board. The topic will be discussed further at the next meeting.
• Toured the Monroe Public Library, led by Library Director Suzann Holland. Holland pointed out the recent renovations and some new features implemented by new staff, among other topics. She said the library recently ordered microfilm of Albany's newspaper after learning the Albertson Memorial Library in Albany doesn't have them.
• Approved the resignation of support staff member Becky Zajac, MMS accounting secretary.
• Approved the purchase of the MHS weight room flooring from Direct Fitness Solutions for about $23,800 and weight room equipment from Summit Fitness for about $25,000, all of which will be covered by the PEP grant.
Board members Amy Bazley and Michael Boehme were absent.
At a meeting Monday, the Monroe school board's finance committee:
• Decided to offer insurance for the Chromebooks used by MHS students starting this fall. The insurance will be sponsored by the district but paid by parents who decide to opt-in at a cost of $20 per device for one year with a $0 deductible. The district will hold an enrollment period and send claims to the provider, Worth Avenue Group Insurance.
• Confirmed that the district will not outsource custodial staff. Ron Olson, the district's business manager, said that after looking into other districts and companies, he found it's best to stick with in-house staff unless there's an existing problem with the workers. Instead of outsourcing, he said, the district can save money by restructuring some positions to be part-time and without benefits.
Board members Amy Bazley, Michael Boehme and Scott Schmidt were absent.
At a special meeting on June 25, the Monroe school board approved a resolution to withdraw from the Local Government Property Insurance Fund. During the state budget process, state legislators considered defunding the program but chose to extend it for two more years with a 40-percent rate increase, according to Olson.
"We were able to come up with an alternative insurance plan that was going to be much more - going to save us $25,000 compared to the 40-percent rate increase that they were going to have," Olson said.
Board members Amy Bazley, Mary Berger, Michael Boehme and Scott Schmidt were absent.
- Susan Endres
• Accepted resignations by instructional staff members: Eric Wheeler, Monroe High School technology/engineering teacher; Stephanie Knellwolf, MHS math teacher; Stevy Held, MHS English teacher; and Danya Ward, MHS Spanish teacher.
• Hired instructional staff members: Alicia Kubly, Monroe Middle School technology teacher; Aaron Heim, Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy guidance; Kaylee Swenson, MMS eighth-grade English teacher; Eric Kassebaum, MMS sixth-grade math teacher.
• Discussed having a sign-up sheet for board members to volunteer to attend back-to-school events during the end of July and early August. Member Brian Keith said he'd like more board members to be at events to encourage more communication between the public and the school board. The topic will be discussed further at the next meeting.
• Toured the Monroe Public Library, led by Library Director Suzann Holland. Holland pointed out the recent renovations and some new features implemented by new staff, among other topics. She said the library recently ordered microfilm of Albany's newspaper after learning the Albertson Memorial Library in Albany doesn't have them.
• Approved the resignation of support staff member Becky Zajac, MMS accounting secretary.
• Approved the purchase of the MHS weight room flooring from Direct Fitness Solutions for about $23,800 and weight room equipment from Summit Fitness for about $25,000, all of which will be covered by the PEP grant.
Board members Amy Bazley and Michael Boehme were absent.
At a meeting Monday, the Monroe school board's finance committee:
• Decided to offer insurance for the Chromebooks used by MHS students starting this fall. The insurance will be sponsored by the district but paid by parents who decide to opt-in at a cost of $20 per device for one year with a $0 deductible. The district will hold an enrollment period and send claims to the provider, Worth Avenue Group Insurance.
• Confirmed that the district will not outsource custodial staff. Ron Olson, the district's business manager, said that after looking into other districts and companies, he found it's best to stick with in-house staff unless there's an existing problem with the workers. Instead of outsourcing, he said, the district can save money by restructuring some positions to be part-time and without benefits.
Board members Amy Bazley, Michael Boehme and Scott Schmidt were absent.
At a special meeting on June 25, the Monroe school board approved a resolution to withdraw from the Local Government Property Insurance Fund. During the state budget process, state legislators considered defunding the program but chose to extend it for two more years with a 40-percent rate increase, according to Olson.
"We were able to come up with an alternative insurance plan that was going to be much more - going to save us $25,000 compared to the 40-percent rate increase that they were going to have," Olson said.
Board members Amy Bazley, Mary Berger, Michael Boehme and Scott Schmidt were absent.
- Susan Endres