The Monroe Public Schools Board of Education approved the purchase of mobile devices for teaching staff.

The board unanimously approved the technology purchase of a cost not to exceed $120,000. The majority of the purchase, $105,000, will be covered by rebates from previous technology expenditures.

Mobile devices will be purchased from Apple Education. Computers will be purchased from Dell.

“The devices we are looking to purchase are a blend of Apple iPads, Dell Chromebooks and Dell laptops,” said David Payne, director of technology.

District staff is working with the district technology committee and building staff to determine which device will be purchased for each staff member.

“By working with the staff, we can make sure we are purchasing the right equipment to support their curriculum and not just one blanket purchase.”

Teachers for Young 5’s through second grade will receive the first round of devices, which will be iPads.

“Our goal would be to have all new devices purchased in this plan over the next two months,” Payne added.

It has been about five years since the district upgraded staff technology.

There will be a half-day of school for Monroe Public Schools students on Wednesday, December 7.  Pre-school at Riverside, along with Kids Club at Riverside and Custer, will operate on a regular schedule. 

Students will have a half day of school on Wednesday, November 23, and no school on Thursday and Friday.  Pre-school at Riverside, as well as Kids Club at Riverside and Custer, will operate on a regular schedule.

There will be no school for all Monroe Public Schools students on Tuesday, November 1.  This is a countywide teacher professional development day.  Kids Club will also be closed and there will be no Rainbow Preschool.  School will resume on Wednesday, November 2.

     At its October 25^th meeting, the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education approved the appointment of Deputy Superintendent Julie Everly as Superintendent, effective January 1, 2017.  Mrs. Everly will be taking over for Dr. Barry Martin, who is retiring from the superintendent position after forty-four years in education.

     Mrs. Everly has been with Monroe Public Schools for nearly twenty-five years and has been a teacher, building principal and central office administrator.  Mrs. Everly is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where she has earned bachelor’s, master’s, and specialist degrees.  She is currently seeking a doctorate in educational leadership.

     Mrs. Everly started her career with Monroe Public Schools in the Kids Club child care program in 1993.  She then moved on to become a teacher at Manor Elementary School.  She served as principal of Raisinville Elementary and then Arborwood Elementary.  Mrs. Everly became an  assistant superintendent in the district’s central office in 2012 and then deputy superintendent in 2015.  Mrs. Everly is a resident of Monroe and has two children who attend school in the district. 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016

There will be a half-day of school for Monroe Public Schools students on Wednesday, October 26.  Pre-school at Riverside, as well as Kids Club at Riverside and Custer, will operate on a regular schedule. 

On Thursday, November 3, Monroe Public Schools is sponsoring an opportunity for staff and community members to meet and talk with candidates for the Monroe Public Schools Board of Education.  There are four Board seats open with ten candidates running, including three incumbents.  The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. with each candidate being given an opportunity to speak briefly about why they are running for the Board.  This will be followed by refreshments and an opportunity for those present to talk with individual candidates.  This event will be held at the Monroe Public Schools Administration Building located at 1275 North Macomb.  

“Pupil Count Day,” where all public schools in Michigan tally the number of students attending their schools, is next Wednesday, October 5.     

     It always is important to be in school for learning but on October 5, the financial implications are important, too, because each student translates into state funding for the district where they attend. 

     Parents are encouraged to make every effort to ensure their children are in school on Pupil Count Day.

     In these days of tight economic times, count information is critical to all state public schools districts, including Monroe Public Schools.  Michigan schools have two count days per calendar year.  The fall count – which is next week – represents 90 percent of state funding.  The second count day, which will be in February 2017, represents 10 percent of state funding for a district.

               When people think of high school co-op programs, they think of students leaving school to work in fast-food restaurants or in the service industry.  But for a Monroe High School graduate, that was not the case.  In fact, her co-op work at the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office led to full-time work there as she attends college at Monroe County Community College. 

Kaysi Morlan, a 2016 Monroe High School graduate, worked two years in the prosecutor’s office through the MHS co-op program.  During that time, she not only was active in MHS business programs, but she also was a member of the National Honor Society and an officer with the MHS chapter of Business Professionals of America.  Though the time demands on her were high during her high school years, she still managed to graduate Magna Cum Laude. 

One of the lessons learned in business programs at Monroe High School is the value of relationships and bonds.  Kaysi used her co-op time at the prosecutor’s office to develop those relationships which ultimately led to full-time employment there.

But for Kaysi, classroom learning continues as the Education Plus Credit Union scholarship recipient is in her first semester at MCCC, with a goal of a double major in business and finance.

     The Frenchtown Fiddlers, who over the last several years have entertained thousands of people in the Monroe area, have this week released their first CD, entitled “Fiddlin’ Favorites.”

     Music on the CD is traditional American, Irish and Scottish fiddle tunes.

     “This music was recorded in a three-hour session on stage at Monroe Middle School near the end of May.  It was a brutally hot day after school so the students were able to get a glimpse at the less glamorous part of the music industry,” said Mrs. Ann Felder, Monroe Public Schools orchestra director who leads the after-school performing group comprised of middle- and high-school musicians. 

     Mrs. Felder explained that the Monroe Middle School was used specifically because there was no air conditioning, fans or blowers to make additional noise or distortion.  The session was recorded and the CD produced by Vivo Productions, a Monroe-based professional recording studio.

     “We recorded the students for the most part on individual microphones, giving them a wonderful learning experience as to what is involved in a professional recording session,” Mrs. Felder said. 

     The CDs are available for $10 each from any member of the Frenchtown Fiddlers or by contacting Mrs. Felder at feldera@monroe.k12.mi.us.

     The group has several live performances scheduled in the community in the coming weeks.  They will perform from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 20, at Wellspring Lutheran, formerly the Lutheran Home.  They also will provide music at the lantern tours at the Navarre Anderson Trading Post on Oct. 14, 15, 21 and 22.