School district receives nearly $11K from 16 donors

MONTICELLO — It’s not unusual for Monticello Public Schools to receive donations from local businesses and community organizations.

In fact, at each meeting of the Monticello School Board, held twice a month, there are usually a few such gifts announced.

But at the last school board meeting, held Monday, April 15, a whopping total of 16 donations — nearly $11,000 — was accepted by the board.

“That’s in two weeks that we had 16 people come forward, so that’s just absolutely incredible,” said Superintendent Eric Olson.

School board chairwoman Kathy Ziebarth also voiced her amazement at the generosity.

“It’s just really astonishing how the community has come together to support the programs that we have and our students and the things that otherwise we would not be able to do,” she said.

The bulk of the donations was given to the Monticello Fishing Team for supplies, with a total of $8,600 gifted. Those 12 donors were Cargill, UMC, Minnesota Darkhouse & Angling Association, All Elements Roofing, DBA Monticello Auto Service, Dan Olson with State Farm, Monticello Chiropractic & Therapy, SERVPRO of Wright County, Dahlheimer Beverage, Moon Motorsports, BJ’s Bait & Tackle and Fehn Companies.

Two donors — Newport Healthcare and Prairie Care — also gave $1,300 toward sponsorship for the 2024 Resiliency Conference.

And two other donors — CAP Custom Homes and Dahlheimer Beverage — donated $1,000 toward the high school’s trap shooting team.

Ziebarth explained that 100% of the donations will go to the intended programs to which they were given.

“All of the donations, every penny, goes to the program that it’s supposed to. There’s no overhead fees or anything …” Ziebarth said. “Every penny goes to the students.”

“Every school board meeting we have, I’m a little bit more astonished at how generous our community is in donations,” she said. “And tonight is no small matter of astonishment.”