District News from the Superintendent
Dr. Colleen A. Palmer
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Wednesday, March 10, 2010 by super
What is the capacity of Masuk High School?
Under typical circumstances, a school operates at approximately 80% or this would be 1450 students for Masuk High School. However, this number can be increased up to 100% capacity of 1812 students, but it would provide no flexibility in space. The proposed 8th Grade Academy would have Masuk operate at 92% capacity, acceptable, but not optimal.
Sunday, March 07, 2010 by adminwww
The Monroe Public Schools Superintendent's blog is now the District News from the Superintendent. It can now be found on the main district web page. If you would like to see more details on any article click on more following the article or on more located at the bottom of the scroller to be taken to the complete listing.
Friday, February 26, 2010 by adminwww
The presentations given are available for download here:
Thursday, February 18, 2010 by super
Robert Jenckes is the Transportation Planner for First Student.
Sunday, February 14, 2010 by adminwww
Why is there sometimes a delay in acknowledging receipt of questions or getting responses posted on the Supt. Blog about current issues?
Up to this point, these kinds of email questionshave come directly to myindividual Superintendent email account, along with several hundred emails I receive daily regarding the business of the district. The sheer volume of emails has become a challenge to manage. However, in order to ensure that each question regarding the budget or other current issues of the districtreceivesappropriate attention, a specific email account has been established for these inquiries. Going forward, the email address for these types of inquirieswill be:
Thursday, February 11, 2010 by adminwww
Wednesday, February 10th Update
The BOE adopted its budget at 6.87%. The First Selectman has asked for a reduction of 850K, resulting in the mitigation strategy of the closing of Chalk Hill School for the fall becoming a reality. With the closing a school, all options have been considered for reconfiguration of the district. Data from an updated transportation analysis has been completed precluding the establishment of the Early Childhood Learning Center at the high school. Kindergarten students would have to get picked up too early, come home too late, or it would just cost too much to put in place. Planning is now underway for the 5th grades to remain in the three elementary schools and for the 8th grade to move to Masuk.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 by adminwww
Can we install geothermal heating units and solar energy units on our buildings?
The capital outlay to retrofit facilities for geothermal has such a long payback that it would cost taxpayers in the long run because the facilities don't have that much life in them. Geothermal in any new construction is definitely the way to go. Active solar in the northeast is not a price performer. However passive solar in the northeast makes good sense for new construction. Passive solar is the building site orientation of facilities combined with building materials that absorb the heat from the sun and radiate the heat after the sun sets.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 by adminwww
There are some competitive grants out there and many competing to get them. Because Monroe is in the top 20% of the towns in the state based on our economic need, our community would not be perceived to be as high as many other communities. Unfortunately that takes us out of the running for grants that are awarded based on economic need. We can certainly pursue grants as they become available but understand that the time it takes to research them, write them, monitor the process etc is very labor intensive. The district has no designated grant writer and all administrators assist as they can to secure grants to support the district.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 by adminwww
These items are part of the expenditures for operating a district. Having bright yellow jackets for our staff who manage school traffic [both foot and vehicular] provides a level of safety to them. Items such as mission statement signs go to the core of who we are and what we do as an organization.
Thursday, February 11, 2010 by adminwww
The entire business of serving food to students is controlled by strict state and federal guidelines. SODEXHO has managed the program in a manner that has been economical to the district and responsive to students' nutritional needs and desires.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 by adminwww
Do the citizens have to vote on the closing of Chalk Hill?
No, this would not go to a referendum to decide. The Board of Education would need to vote formally on this issue to revert control of the facility back to town as of a set date.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 by adminwww
What is KinderAcademy?
For years, the YMCA ran KinderTime in our schools that provided a half-day wrap-around program of learning and childcare for students in kindergarten. This means that a morning kindergarten student would stay the afternoon in KinderTime [or vise versa], and pay the YMCA for this extended care. Monroe Public Schools received no remuneration for this program under the YMCA arrangement.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 by adminwww
What revenue is generated from KinderAcademy?
This is the district's first year with the program and we are tracking finances. Since this program is not funded by the BOE, it is considered an entrepreneurial initiative and recorded in the enterprise funds for the district [where athletic pay-for-play fees, student parking fees, etc. are tracked]. We expect the program to generate 30-50K, depending on enrollment until the end of the year. These monies would be able to fund the before-school and Saturday CMT tutoring program for several hundred Monroe students next year that are not included in the operating budget for 10-11.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 by adminwww
Can any of thesuggested"compression plans" ofconsolidating all K-8 schools in 4 buildings work for next year so we don't have to send a grade to Masuk?
There has been much talk in the community about which school should be closed and how the grades should be configured. As I have publicly stated in BOE meetings after the enrollment prediction reports were completed, the district was anticipating closing a school, not next year, but within a few years. The acceleration of this process leaves fewer options in terms of configuration and does make the process more difficult than if we had waited. [Click the title for more]
Thursday, February 04, 2010 by super
Superintendent's Budget Presentation from Monroe Board of Education meeting on February 1, 2010 now available in the Superintendent's documents.
  
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