Dear Residents and Parents,
Welcome to the 2023-24 school year. We are excited to start and continue working with our District students. Many of our staff have been serving students and families in different capacities during the summer months and have been working to improve educational access for all. Principals and other administrators have been at work all summer in preparation of a new school year with a few new staff in every building.
The District has started the process for building the new high school and is planning for the updates to Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. On July 17, 2023, the District Electors approved a 70 plus acre site, referred to as the B&S site, to build a new high school. Many of you made time to attend and make an informed vote based on facts and what is in the best interest of our children and District communities. There were 1,730 votes cast with 1,064 yes, 660 no, and 2 ballots were spoiled and not counted. Since that evening, we have been engaged in the process of satisfying contingencies with our land survey being one of the first steps.
The owners of B&S provided the District and taxpayers a very rare opportunity through the purchase agreement which will ultimately be a total project cost savings of $3,250,000.
Abraham Lincoln will begin receiving updates similar to the Parkside and Northside Elementary school work completed in the previous 4 years. Some of the less disruptive work will be done through the school year, but the bulk of this work will be done through next summer. Regular updates on the building projects are available at monroeschools.com and our social media platforms.
If you are looking for some excellent and entertaining hometown entertainment, I encourage you to take in an athletic contest, concert, or theatrical performance. Our programs and students are consistently recognized and achieve awards at the highest levels in the state. We have many very talented students and dedicated staff in all areas serving kids in and out of the classroom. Monroe offers a wide variety of clubs and activities for our students to take advantage of during and outside of the school day. If a student is interested they will find something they like, we have something for everyone.
Our High School LAUNCH program experienced a high level of success in the first year and our participation numbers have increased significantly. One of the new LAUNCH strands this year is a partnership with SSM and the Green County Development Corporation in what is being called The Home Construction Cooperative. Jeriamy Jackson, MHS Principal, and LAUNCH Coordinator Cara Carper shared additional information at the August 14th Board of Education Meeting. To get the program running, SSM Clinic provided a home near the hospital to the Cooperative (managed by Olivia Otte GCDC Director) which will be reconditioned/remodeled by students under the direction and supervision of school instructors and community construction partners. This is the first phase of creating a building trades partnership with the District.
Our commitment to healthy educational growth is an asset which will provide continuous advantages for our students now and in the future. Simply stated, your children are the most important part of our mission and we will work to provide the best for them. When your children are here, they are surrounded by adults who truly care about them and want them to succeed. Their future success is all of our future success.
Our best for their best,
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