Monroe School District accepts Cleaver Brooks $50,000 sponsorship for new high school Fab Lab; construction near completion

The Monroe School District board voted to accept a $50,000 sponsorship from Cleaver Brooks to support the new Monroe High School Fab Lab, administration said at the April 13 meeting. The sponsorship will be paid over 10 years and the space will be known as the Cleaver Brooks Fab Lab going forward.

"This is a $50,000 sponsorship that will be paid out over 10 years," an administrator told the board, adding the district has more than $3.2 million in total sponsorship dollars for the new high school. Administration stressed those dollars are intended to support future programs and enhancements and are not required to complete construction; the district remains within its established budget for the project.

Construction partners and district administrators said the high school is in the home stretch: concrete is poured, kitchen equipment installation is active and most finishing work is underway. The performing arts center was identified as the area with the most remaining work, including railings, doors and acoustical finishes. Administration said they expect furniture moves to begin in May and reiterated that occupancy and safety systems must be certified before widely opening the building.

The board approved the sponsorship by motion. Consent-agenda items earlier in the meeting also recognized donations for the new high school (material donors for the welding booth were named in the consent item).

Next steps: administration will continue final punch-list work, plan furniture moves for May and follow up with the board about contingency budgets and options for remaining finish work.