/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

School officials taking notes on feedback from community

Marshall Public School Board Chair Jeff Chapman, right, engages in conversation with community member Arlene Markell, a retired teacher who taught in the district for 40 years, during the second of two community input meetings held recently regarding the long-range facilities planning at MPS.

MARSHALL — More community input regarding Marshall Public Schools facilities was added to the complex conversation via different poster boards during an open-format meeting recently in the media center at Marshall High School.

Several administrators and board members were in attendance to answer questions as community members trickled in to engage in discussions about the future of the district’s facilities. MPS Board Chair Jeff Chapman stressed the importance of getting comprehensive information out to the public as well as asking them for feedback.

“This is our community’s school system,” Chapman said. “It belongs to them. We (as board members) are just caretakers.”

Along with gathering community input, ICS Consulting’s Pat Overom was hired to oversee the long-range facilities planning process.

“Pat and his firm have given us great input on how the community feels, what they think the needs are and where we need to improve,” said Chapman, who has been a board member for nearly 20 years. “He’s been a great resource for us and we’re very happy with his work. He’s coming from the outside with no preconceived ideas. He’s just getting information and presenting it regarding what people think and need to know as well as what direction they want to go. He’s there to help guide us.”

Dan and Arlene Markell were among the community members who sought valuable information at the meeting.

“We were expecting more of a meeting-type situation, but I guess it’s OK because I see a lot of different comments with the different boards here,” Dan Markell said. “We’re landowners — we own land that is rented — so we mainly wanted to get some input and maybe ask a few questions.”

Shari Schultz said she also hadn’t anticipated the open-type format, but acknowledged that it was one way for people to get an idea of what community think.

“If somebody wants to share something, they might be more apt to write it than they would be to stand up or raise their hand,” she said. “With some of these notes, people might not have wanted to stand up and say it, but they’ll write it so they’re heard.”

Schultz said she hopes the next step is to have a powerpoint and presentation with a question and answer session afterward.

“This format was fine because it was interesting to read about the concerns and ideas other people had,” Schultz said. “I agreed with a lot of them, but not all of them. I got an idea where other people were coming from.”

One takeaway Schultz said she had after reading a Post-It note that suggested engaging minority population more was that families who spoke limited or no English could really be at a disadvantage when it comes to learning about and giving input.

“This format could really be a challenge or intimidating for someone who doesn’t speak the language,” she said. “How are they going to write a note or read the comments? They might feel the same way in another kind of meeting, so that’s a challenge. Maybe there needs to be an outlet for them, maybe at another meeting where someone could be translating for them.”

Chapman said he thought that was an “excellent idea” and appreciated the input.

“We have people in place who could help with that,” he said, referring to the Parent Student Connectors at MPS.

Schultz said she was very interested in learning more about the facilities planning, especially regarding West Side. As a former French teacher at Marshall High School, she said she is also concerned about recruiting, retaining and bettering teachers in the district.

“I have the heart of a teacher, so I’m always wondering what we can do for teachers,” Schultz said. “Being a teacher is rewarding, but it can be really hard. I can shorten your life, especially if you have a family. So much is expected of you, but you can’t dedicate your entire life 24-7 around the clock. So I think it’s important to recruit and retain, and for the ones who stay, help them become healthy, well-rounded people where teaching doesn’t totally have to rule their lives.”

“Great teacher, great administrators and great programs” were among the comments left on the board that asked what great things are happening in Marshall Public Schools. Another note said “teachers who go above and beyond,” while a different Post-It read, “Awesome staff.”

Other great things mentioned included: extracurricular opportunities, growth in the district, diversity, safety grants, test scores, well-behaved and respectful students, one of the best music programs in the state and competitive athletic programs.

“We’ve gotten a lot of good feedback the past few weeks,” MPS Superintendent Scott Monson said.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today