To the editor:

Having spent 38 years as band director at Marshall High School, I know first-hand how important strong schools and a quality education are for students in Marshall.

My wife and I are very proud to call Marshall home and to have raised our children here. It is through the quality education they received from Marshall Public Schools: 1. They were extremely successful in college, 2. All went on to earn their master’s degree, and 3. All are very successful in their chosen occupations.

Throughout my career I have experienced the highs and lows of education funding and the effect it has on our schools. Our schools have offered diverse course offerings aimed at educating all learners. They have also had very difficult times where many of these courses were cut due to lack of funding. The first is a much greater place to teach than the second for staff, students, administration, and the entire Marshall community.

With the looming budget deficit ahead for the following school year, the School District is asking voters to restore the $675 per pupil levy that was allowed to expire in 2018. This levy will allow the district to maintain the quality and diverse curriculum that currently exists.

I encourage you to visit TomorrowsTigers.org and to read the Q and A with Superintendent Jeremy Williams in the Tuesday Oct. 25th issue of the Independent. Both have excellent answers and information to questions you may have. I also would encourage you to carefully cast your vote for candidates for the Marshall School Board as these will be the people that will determine the future direction of our schools.

Wayne Ivers

Marshall

— Wayne Ivers is a retired Marshall Public Schools Band Director