MONROE - At a meeting Monday, Aug. 25, the Monroe school board:
• Heard an update on the Bauer Learning Center. Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe provided data on 31 students who attended the Monroe Alternative Charter School in 2012-13 and the BLC in 2013-14. The data compared their absences from the two years, their GPAs and the number of office discipline referrals they received each year. Most of the students showed an increase in absences and a decrease in GPA from the charter school to the BLC. There were fewer office referrals in 2013-14 than 2012-13. Board members requested additional data that might give a better representation of how the students are transitioning from the charter school. Les Bieneman suggested MHS' higher standards could explain why the students don't seem to be doing better.
• Agreed to the U.S. Cellular Sports promotion. Under the promotion, the school district would receive $1,000 in exchange for a U.S. Cellular tent being set up at a few high school sporting events, starting with football and possibly including basketball. The district would receive additional money based on how many people attending the games check in using the company's app. District Business Administrator Ron Olson spoke with another district that participated in the program last year, and said they had no complaints about it. The board approved the promotion for one year as a pilot to make sure it's as unobtrusive as other districts claim. Michael Boehme voted against the motion.
• Hired new instructional staff member Danielle Wittmann, Monroe High School agriculture.
• Accepted the resignation of support staff member Ryan Dahmen, Monroe Middle School special education aide.
• Hired new support staff members: Laurel Decker, MMS LMC assistant; Lisa Polnow, Northside Elementary School food service; and Kristine Witt, MMS EBNA.
• Approved the requests of three students to attend other districts and the requests of two students to attend the Monroe school district.
• Accepted a grant for $9,229 from the Berbee Derby Technology Education Foundation to be used for 30 Chromebooks, a Chromebook cart and 30 Chromebook licenses at Parkside Elementary School.
• Agreed to make Rhyme the district's copier vendor for the next five years.
• Accepted a donation of $850 from the Salvation Army to be used for school supplies and items for students in need.
Amy Bazley was absent.
-Susan Endres
• Heard an update on the Bauer Learning Center. Director of Pupil Services Joe Monroe provided data on 31 students who attended the Monroe Alternative Charter School in 2012-13 and the BLC in 2013-14. The data compared their absences from the two years, their GPAs and the number of office discipline referrals they received each year. Most of the students showed an increase in absences and a decrease in GPA from the charter school to the BLC. There were fewer office referrals in 2013-14 than 2012-13. Board members requested additional data that might give a better representation of how the students are transitioning from the charter school. Les Bieneman suggested MHS' higher standards could explain why the students don't seem to be doing better.
• Agreed to the U.S. Cellular Sports promotion. Under the promotion, the school district would receive $1,000 in exchange for a U.S. Cellular tent being set up at a few high school sporting events, starting with football and possibly including basketball. The district would receive additional money based on how many people attending the games check in using the company's app. District Business Administrator Ron Olson spoke with another district that participated in the program last year, and said they had no complaints about it. The board approved the promotion for one year as a pilot to make sure it's as unobtrusive as other districts claim. Michael Boehme voted against the motion.
• Hired new instructional staff member Danielle Wittmann, Monroe High School agriculture.
• Accepted the resignation of support staff member Ryan Dahmen, Monroe Middle School special education aide.
• Hired new support staff members: Laurel Decker, MMS LMC assistant; Lisa Polnow, Northside Elementary School food service; and Kristine Witt, MMS EBNA.
• Approved the requests of three students to attend other districts and the requests of two students to attend the Monroe school district.
• Accepted a grant for $9,229 from the Berbee Derby Technology Education Foundation to be used for 30 Chromebooks, a Chromebook cart and 30 Chromebook licenses at Parkside Elementary School.
• Agreed to make Rhyme the district's copier vendor for the next five years.
• Accepted a donation of $850 from the Salvation Army to be used for school supplies and items for students in need.
Amy Bazley was absent.
-Susan Endres