Belleville’s School Board Says its “Goodbyes” to Two Dedicated Members

What does it mean to serve?  This is a question that can easily be answered by both Mike Treder and Bill Monroe, who completed their elected duties to the Belleville School Board and the Belleville learning community on Monday, April 8, 2024.  Both Mike and Bill have given much more than their time serving at regularly scheduled monthly meetings.  They have modeled their love for Belleville’s students and educational staff in their actions and deeds, making a strong impact in the community during their time of service.

For Mike Treder, he and his family have demonstrated that building a learning community takes care and time, and it shows in the many financial gifts the Treder family have bestowed upon teacher’s initiatives and Belleville’s schools during his time of service on the school board.  These gifts have extended teachers’ classroom budgets in tight times, bettering the learning experience for both teachers and students and helping to positively build staff morale.

Elementary Principal Kelsey Schmit reflects, “Mike and his family have been instrumental in making projects and experiences come to life.  His donations have enhanced students’ feeling of belonging, the ability to engage in hands-on learning experiences and visit places that wouldn’t have been possible without their generosity.”

Mike’s unwavering dedication to the Belleville learning community was also underscored as he returned for an additional year-long term, serving as President during the 2023-24 academic year when it was needed.

District Administrator Nate Perry emphasizes, “Not only was Mike a tremendous contributor as a board member, but his leadership in the last year as President has set the board on a solid path.  The board is functioning at a high-level because of his guidance.”

Bill Monroe has also shown through his dedicated service to the school board what it means to give back to a community he cares deeply about, but he has gone above and beyond by helping to meet the needs of Belleville’s music program through his own professional experience.  During his time of service as a Belleville School Board member, he has continued to maintain the school district’s pianos without any compensation.  Putting one’s talents to their best use is a wonderful measure of character and has spotlighted Monroe’s career of service to the district.  Belleville’s music program is a strong one, and to have its instruments lovingly tended to for Belleville’s music students to continuously grow and develop is a wonderful way to model service to the learning community Monroe has served.

Band Director Stephanie Meir acknowledges, “Bill Monroe has done a wonderful job of keeping our district pianos in tune and working properly over the years.  He is great to work with as a fellow musician, and as a member of the school board.  Bill understands the importance of the arts within the school and has been a supporter of the music department.  Bill is thoughtful and thorough and his services are a great asset to the community of Belleville.  Thank you for being a member of our school board, Bill!”

Bill has also been insightful as a school board member, helping shape the direction of the boards’ initiatives as he worked to make the student experience in Belleville the best it can be.

Perry notes, “I have appreciated Bill’s intellect, ability to see the ‘big picture,’ focus on students, his directness, and his sense of humor.”

Being an elected member of a school board takes a lot of energy and dedication to the community and serves as a fine example of civil service.  It is an act of kindness to keep the ball rolling and help shape education in a positive way, connecting families, students, and educators because one’s education is key to building a foundation for growth for our young children, tweens, and teens as they set out to achieve their own goals and dreams.

As both Treder and Monroe step down this spring from their time on the Belleville School Board, they make room for new voices to pick up where they left off and serve.  This change in membership offers an opportunity for a new set of talents and viewpoints to be heard to continue to stretch the direction from which Belleville’s schools can learn and grow.

Perry highlights, “I am excited about the skills that Alan Charles and Meg Anthony will bring to the Belleville Board of Education.  Having already started the onboarding process with them, it is evident that they care about kids, have an enthusiasm for the work, and a positive outlook on where the district can go!”