MARSHALL — A longtime member of the Marshall School Board has stepped down from his position, as he plans to pursue a new job opportunity.

On Monday, members of the school board voted to accept Bill Mulso’s resignation, and approved a timeline to appoint a candidate to fill the remainder of Mulso’s term.

“Bill has served as a school board representative for the past 16 years, and has been a strong advocate for Marshall Public School District,” said school board chairman Matt Coleman.

Mulso said he would be taking a new position as COO at Hoffman & Brobst in Marshall, and he wanted to avoid a potential conflict of interest. Hoffman & Brobst is the public accounting firm that conducts the school district’s annual audit, he said.

Mulso said pursuing a new job also means he will be retiring from his position at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he is currently vice president for government relations, communications and marketing. Mulso has worked at the university for 31 years.

In his resignation letter, Mulso said it had been “an honor and a privilege” to serve on the school board.

“Working alongside fellow board members, administrative teams, the faculty and staff has been a very rewarding experience,” he said. “There is a definite sense of pride when I reflect back on the many things we have accomplished over the years.”

School board members approved a timeline to advertise for Mulso’s vacant position and appoint a new board member to fill the remainder of his term. Mulso’s seat on the board was up for re-election in 2024.

The open board seat will be advertised from Dec. 5-21. The school board will select up to three candidates from submitted applications, and interview the candidates during a school board meeting in January. After the interviews, board members will vote on a resolution to fill the vacancy by appointment.

The appointee would attend their first school board meeting and sign the oath of office in early February.

Mulso said he had run for school board back when his children were young. It was a way to get involved and give back to the community, he said.

The past 16 years saw a lot of change at MPS. Mulso said some of the standout events as he served on the school board included the construction of new school facilities, and the start of the district’s one-to-one technology program. Mulso said it was “always a highlight” to see students’ achievements each year, and the district also had a great partnership with its staff and teachers.

“That’s something that has been rewarding,” he said.

“For me, leaving SMSU at the same time is a big deal,” Mulso said of taking a new position. However, he said he was proud of the strong relationship that the university and MPS have developed over the years. “It all goes back to having a good relationship with the community of Marshall.”