Monday, July 28, 2008

$5,000 grant awarded for Winnequah Tile Mural Project

Kristin just got word that the Monona Elementary PTO has been awarded $5000 from the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission. The money is to be used toward the Winnequah Cafeteria Tile Mural Project to create a student driven work of art for the Winnequah cafeteria. Counting this grant the committee is nearly halfway to its fundraising goal.

What about the other half? Can you say Pie Party? That's right, on September 13th the PTO is hosting a fundraising event in the Winnequah Cafetaria featuring 200 home baked pies. YOU can help by signing up to bake a pie (bakers can win fabulous prizes), attending the event and going home with your favorite pie, or SPREADING THE WORD about this event! More information can be found at www.bestpieparty.com.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Glacial Drumlin Dedication

The Dedication and Open House at the Glacial Drumlin School will be Sunday August 17th starting at 1:00 pm. Hope to see you there!


From the website:
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE
GLACIAL DRUMLIN
SCHOOL DEDICATION
AUGUST 17, 2008
1:00 p.m. Program in gymnasium
Refreshments and tour to follow program

Saturday, July 19, 2008

PEG is Online!

Public Access channel programming from the Monona public channel is available online at http://www.mononatv.com to provide access to those of us without digital cable (QAM) tuners after next month's switch. Monona TV will include webcasts of MG school board meetings in the on-line content.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Coming up...

Next week's business services agenda is here. Its not very exciting, but financial expert Paul Thompson of Hutchinson, Shockey, Erley & Co. will discuss post-retirement benefits and financing. Funding of post-retirement benefits is a key financial concern so this discussion should be of interest to anyone concerned about the long term financial health of the district.

If you scroll down to the bottom you will notice a calendar with board meetings and events marked. I will try to keep it up to date, but this unofficial and I make no guarantees to its accuracy. Please check the MG website for event times, events and locations.

Friday, July 11, 2008

PEG is moving

If you haven't heard yet, Charter Communications is moving channel 12, the local PEG Channel (Public, Education, Government), that serves Monona and the school district. Currently broadcast on the basic tier of analog service the channel will be moved to a digital channel number somewhere between 980 an 994. Although the signal will be available on the basic tier you will need a TV with a digital tuner or a converter box in order to access such scintillating content as the MG Board meetings. The switchover will occur on August 12th so you will need to upgrade by then. The city's information page on the subject can be found here.

It is my understanding that Web Streaming of the content will be considered in order to offer some service options to those without digital reception or cable access.

Update: Andy Hagen (The city and district Media Coordinator) posted a comment with some important information, so I moved it up here:


Thank you for letting people know about this. The change is a little confusing because of another digital television change happening at the same time with over-the-air broadcasters. Cable is not using the same system that over-the-air broadcasters are using. A few other notes which could be helpful to you and your readers.

1)The change means that live events at the High School (sports, concerts, etc.) should be viewable in both Monona and Cottage Grove.

2)The new cable signal will require a QAM tuner. The digital tuners currently available for around $50 (and eligible for a $40 coupon) WILL NOT WORK with this signal. QAM tuners are hard to find right now, and usually are sold as part of a DVD recorder, or DVR for around $150.

3)The QAM tuner is not well documented on displays at TV retailers either. It is not well known by salespeople. Not all new TVs have them, and new TVs are not required to have them like the are for the other system. If you are looking for a new TV, shop carefully. You still might need a converter box to watch digital cable on a new TV.

4)Charter told us they will offer a converter box to viewers for free for 6 months. Viewers would have to call Charter, and then stop by their office on Daniels street to pick it up. Details will be released next week.

If you or your readers have any questions, please call me at 221-7666 x 2133.

Thank you,
Andy Hagen
Media Coordinator

Monday, July 7, 2008

Glacial Drumlin Blog

Thanks to the anonymous commenter for pointing out the Glacial Drumlin Blog. Among other things you will find schedules for next year and the behaviour program overview posted. Let Paul Herrick or Renee Tennant know if you find this a useful communication channel.

Are you aware of MGSD related blogs others might useful? Please post them here!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Happy 4th of July!

July Board Meeting Agenda

July's light agenda can be found here.
There are two items of note on the Agenda: the Resource Officer Agreement between the district and the municipalities will provide for the Police Liaison officer; and the "Committee to Study Grade Configuration in Monona" which will be tasked with evaluating the different options for grade alignment of the Monona elementary schools.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Education Podcast

I think there is a mismatch in the importance placed on education (at least judged by the money we spend on it!) and the lack of coverage it receives in the media. What news we do get tends to focus on local issues but don't give us a larger perspective on the education issues facing the nation. It is one reason I regularly listen to John Merrow's "Education Podcast" on my mp3 player (usually while walking Doogie!)

The podcast features interviews with teachers, principals, superintendents and even inner city single parents, but the emphasis is always on academic achievement. Recently they have had a series of speakers on the "Democracy at Risk" report - a follow up to the well known "Nation at Risk" report issued 25 years ago. Alternate perspectives are always thought provoking and help bring our local issues into focus, so I recommend to anyone looking for a wider view that they invest a few minutes with this podcast.

The podcasts can be downloaded from the link above or at Itunes.