To the editor:

The Marshall Education Association (MEA) is the proud union of teachers and counselors at Marshall Public Schools.

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to Russ Labat’s recent column in The Independent on Feb. 11 regarding the school board’s budget reductions. Foremost, the MEA does not share Mr. Labat’s opposition to the operating levy referendum. Stable school funding has been essential in making the Marshall Tigers a source of community pride. However, we do agree with several of Mr. Labat’s concerns about how our school board has approached the budget reductions.

Our community rejected an operating levy referendum last November for the second time in five years. And now, the school board has the unenviable task of dealing with the serious consequences. And we, the MEA, have shown up in large numbers at recent board meetings to make clear our concerns with the budget cuts the board is implementing. The reductions moved forward by the school board will disproportionately impact teachers and classroom aides — those who work most directly with kids — while the district office administration remains fully protected and, in fact, larger than ever.

Before last November’s vote, some community members were expressing this same concern about misplaced financial priorities, and it resonated when voters went to the polls. For the board to now dismiss the concerns of voters seems to sow anything but trust. And trust is obviously what needs to be rebuilt after two straight failed referendums by significant margins. Remember, 2025 was the most successful year for levy referendum campaigns in Minnesota since 2019. Yet ours in Marshall still failed. And what has been the response from the school board so far? To continually dismiss voter concerns.

Moving forward, it is time for our board members to listen to the community that elected them. This budget can be revisited. There are better cost saving strategies – MEA has presented ideas to board members that could save some teaching and aide positions, keep class sizes more manageable, and prioritize our youngest learners. Doing this could rebuild community trust so people feel heard and understood.

Our Marshall Tigers have been the pride of our community. This has been built over many decades, and it has brought many families to Marshall and scores of talented teachers here to teach. It is our hope that when the time comes again, Marshall voters can restore this pride and cast a yes vote with confidence.

And so, we ask our Marshall community: if you voted no on the levy referendum last November, please consider writing to our school board members and tell them why you did. If you voted yes and are now frustrated, please write to our school board members and tell them why. And to members of the board, we again ask you to listen to these voters because if a referendum were to be put in front of voters today, our concern is that it would fail again. And then where would we be?

Current school board members:

Matt Coleman matt.coleman@marshall.k12.mn.us

Sara Runchey sara.runchey@marshall.k12.mn.us

Sara Brink sara.brink@marshall.k12.mn.us

Jeff Chapman jeff.chapman@marshall.k12.mn.us

Mary Swanson mary.swanson@marshall.k12.mn.us

Timothy Van Moer timothy.vanmoer@marshall.k12.mn.us

Marshall Education Association Leadership

— Rick Purrington, Dan Smith, Mitch Maxwell, Kat Deutz, Kari Meyer, Megan Culhane, Chris Shuckhart, Katie Jenson, Donna Bastemeyer, Lexie Gifford, Julie Kuecker, Elizabeth Maxwell, Alex Cleppe, Deanna Suby, Kelly Konietzko, Emily Hoffmann.