Joint MPS, Monroe City Council meeting held at MHS

Members discuss plans for students in workforce

Hanna Chapell, Reporter

Monroe Public School’s Board of Education and the Monroe City Council gathered Monday, Oct. 26 at Monroe High School to create productive conversation about future plans for Monroe graduates in the community.

Members gathered to discuss topics surrounding the issues of communication, land use and preparing students for job placement after graduation. The purpose of this meeting was to explore opportunities for students in the workforce and in the community. City officials such as MPS superintendent Barry Martin and Mayor of Monroe Robert Clark attended the meeting to express their opinions.

Clark expressed that, “Both boards recognized the importance of education for the personal growth of students to build a stronger community.” Clark also made a point that there is a direct correlation between education, jobs and vibrant communities.

Since this was the first meeting of its kind  where the city council was brought to MHS, participants weren’t exactly sure what to expect.

Martin reflected, “This was a successful workshop.” He also said, “It contributed to a better understanding of the work of the city and the work of the school when it comes to making Monroe a better place to live and work.”

Recently, there has been a significant emphasis put on secondary planning after graduation. Monroe High School has initiated events such as “Decision Day” and “Career and College Readiness Day” to help students plan for post-graduation. But not all these students plan on attending a college or university. Sometimes, going straight into the workforce is more convenient for financial or family reasons.

The meeting that happened on Monday addressed problems and came up with solutions for students choosing this route.

Martin discussed that he hoped the workshop would allow for a better understanding of how the community could work together to better students and families living in Monroe, concerning jobs that would be available to students.