What's The Frequency, Kenneth? Cell Phone Towers As Revenue Sources?

Plans to build cell phone tower have been scrapped.

Updated from the Wisconsin State Journal:
“There’s been a lot of research into negative effects that can come from magnetic fields around cell towers,” Dougherty said. “The feeling is there’s not enough scientific evidence out there to make us, as parents, feel like they’re safe.”

Jenny Quinn, a Gompers parent who started Moms and Dads Against Cell Towers, said her group will continue to petition the district to keep cell towers off school property. “To subject our kids to these risks on a daily basis is insane,” Quinn said.

Read it here.

from http://www.channel3000.com/

Cell Phone Tower Proposed For Elementary School, Community Meeting About Proposal Thursday

 North side residents are trying to learn more about a project that could soon be towering over their neighborhood.

“What I want to do is find out all the information, what the entire community thinks," said school board member Marj Passman. She wants feedback on a proposed cell phone tower on a local school’s property.

The tower is being proposed for the land near Gompers Elementary and Blackhawk Middle Schools.

U.S. Cellular wants to build a 75 foot-tall flagpole cell tower, surrounded by an 8-foot wall. The tower would be located behind the schools, off Wheeler Road.

The school district would get needed revenue from U.S. Cellular as part of the deal.

"Why are we even bothering with this, why would we put a tower up there? Ah money," said Passman. "It gives money to the school system and in desperately needy times, every penny that comes in helps."

Read the rest of the article here.

Second Annual Sawyer Crossen Memorial Triathlon Registration Is Now Open!

My boys weren't able to participate in this great event last year, so they're chomping at the bit now! Can't wait!

From Park and Recreation director, Jake Anderson:

Registration is now open for the 2nd annual Sawyer Crossen Memorial Triathlon. Registration is now open!

You can register online, just follow the links from http://www.mymonona.com/ .

The first 50 athletes that are registered will enter in a drawing for a free race admission! The first 100 athletes will receive a free one day pool pass at time of packet pickup.

There is also a $5 early bird discount by signing up by April 1st. Thank you for making the 1st event so successfull and we looking foward to seeing you on Saturday June 4th, 2011 for the 2nd annual event. There is also a dedicated website for the event at http://sawyerstri.squarespace.com/ if you want to refer friends to learn about this great event.

Sue Carr is once again the fundraising chairperson for this event, so if anyone knows of a company that would like to help sponsor, please contact her.

Wednesday Night: A Couple Of Meetings.

This Wednesday evening, January 26, will be a busy one at the District Office. The Business Services committee will meet at 5pm in the district board room. Business Services Director Jerrud Rossing will provide updates on, among other things, our 2011-2012 budget reduction process and the Maywood and Winnequah consolidation. Rossing will also present his results from a food service survey he conducted with our middle school and MGHS students regarding their satisfaction with the food service program that the district is currently contracting with Chartwells. I suppose I should wait to pass judgement until hearing the presentation tomorrow evening, but after paging through the survey results, it sure doesn't sound like our students are enjoying the switch to Chartwells. When asked if the food looks appetizing, 64.1% of highschoolers surveyed responded it needed improvement. 57.3% indicated that the variety of food choices needed improvement, and an unbelievable 70.7% of students said that overall the food needs improvement, period. Not exactly a ringing endorsement of Chartwells.
I've been thinking a lot about how good nutrition can have an amazing effect on student achievement. Does anyone remember the wonderful success story in Appleton many years ago when their Alt. School switched their food service to a partnership with Natural Ovens Bakery? Refresh your memory here and here. Still pretty exciting stuff over a decade later. I would love to be able to afford to have this same type of program here in the district.
The Board of Education will also meet Wednesday evening in closed session to discuss the current state of contract negotiations with the MGEA.

Monona Elementary PTO Bingo Night This Friday!

The Monona Elementary PTO will host the ever-popular Bingo Night this Friday evening in the Winnequah School cafeteria from 6 to 8pm. This is a free family event with beverages and baked goodies for sale. Please remember Bingo Night is not a drop-off event- please plan on enjoying the evening with your children!

Event organizer Kim Haefner is still looking for a couple of extra volunteers to man the treat table for a half hour shift. Please consider lending a hand! You can contact Kim at 441-0870 or Kkcecho6166@att.net.

Good News, Bad News: Wisconsin Students Top National Average On Science Test

 Wisconsin students have scored higher than the national average on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a science achievement test. Unfortunately, once the scores were broken down by race, white students averaged scores in the mid-160s and black students had scores in the low 120s. The national average is 149. And while Wisconsin students top the nation on this assessment test, the findings further emphasize our large achievement gap in Wisconsin, which is also the highest in the nation.

Check out this report in the Journal Sentinel here.

From http://www.channel3000.com/:

The state Department of Public Instruction said Wisconsin fourth- and eighth-graders each scored 157 on a national test. The average for both grades was 149.
The DPI said Tuesday the scores were from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which was administered in 2009.
White Wisconsin students had scores in the mid-160s, just above the national average. But black students scored in the low 120s, and the gap between the two groups at the eighth-grade level was the highest in the nation.
Asian students scored in the low 150s while Hispanics were in the mid-130s.
State Superintendent Tony Evers said closing the achievement gap will require the cooperation of quality educators and supportive parents.

Looking For Something For Your Booooorrrrred Kids To Do?

MG POMS Basketball Dance Camp - Grades K-8

Saturday January 22nd   9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Taylor Prairie Elementary School
Cottage Grove
Cost: $35, $40 day of Camp

Junior pomers will join Monona Grove's varsity dance teams to learn poms, hip hop and jazz techniques that they will use in a fun, choreographed, age-appropriate dance. The dance routine they learn in the camp will be performed during half time at the MG varsity basketball game on Friday, January 28

MG Day with the Silver Eagles - Grades K-8

Wednesday January 26th  1:00 to 3:00 pm

MG High School
Cost: $20

Looking for something to do on your early release from school? Sign up and meet the members of the Monona Grove Silver Eagles boys and girls basketball teams. Coach Zweifel and Coach Nelson will run a camp covering phases of the game, from passing to shooting and dribbling. Cost of registration includes a t-shirt!

Construct a Critter Wednesday January 26th 1:00 to 2:00 pm
Monona Community Center
Ages 3-8

Cost: $20

Create your very own stuffed animal! Children will hand stuff their very own animal complete with a birth certificate and make a wish on a rainbow star during the special wish ceremony. A fun story and tasty treat will make the day complete.

Call the Recreation Department at 222-4167 to register or register online at site below.
City of Monona Parks and Recreation
1011 Nichols Road
Monona, WI
53716
http://www.mymonona.com/

Monona Gardening Club: Organizational Meeting January 27th Monona Community Center

From Jake Anderson:

Hello All,

Thank you for your interest and excitement about getting together for education and socialization as it relates to the world of gardening. Per the responses it seems that Thursday January 27th at 6:00 pm meets the majority of people’s schedules for this first meeting.

I posted the following items that we can center our first discussion around, but I see this as an opportunity for people to get together in a group format and discuss gardening. Feel free to send this email to as many friends and neighbors as you would like and if Jessica and Doug can post on their blogs, I’ll post on the city website, facebook, and our e-newsletter.

As Parks & Recreation Director, I’m interested in tapping into the vast amount of talent we have in Monona to improve the aesthetics/sustainability of our parks and building grounds landscaping and future partnerships for programs that I’ll expand on at our kick-off meeting. If you can RSVP by Jan 25th so I know how much coffee to make, that would be great. Thanks again and I look forward to meeting you.


Starting perennials from seed – What type of equipment you need, what are easy to grow to start with, what type of soil/mix should you use?

Native Landscaping? - What is considered a native perennial plant to our area? Which natives have longest blooms (Bring photos of your gardens!)

Resources – What websites do you use for information for beginner gardeners, advanced, and sources to purchase plants/bulb/seed from both locally and online.

Plant Swap Meet Details – brainstorming session on if this idea is feasible for Monona and possible dates, location, etc.