Marshall has an alternative learning center (ALC), known as MATEC for grades 9-12. MATEC stands for Marshall Area Technical and Educational Center.

This program was first called the Life Skills Center and was housed at SMSU. Over the years, our ALC has moved locations and been rebranded a couple of times. For a few years, we operated as MECLA at the Market Street Mall, and most recently we moved to a retail space on South 2nd Street and are now named MATEC.

Part of having an ALC includes hosting some alternative type interventions at the middle level and the ability to host extended day programs for our at-risk students. In Marshall, our extended programming includes Project Success during the school year and Jump Start in the summer.

MATEC is designed to provide alternative options for students who are behind in credits earned toward graduation. The school day at MATEC is designed to provide more flexibility in earning credits for our students where the typical high school setting is not the best fit.

Students take an additional class during the day for credit and have smaller classes with more 1:1 attention and support from their teachers to help them recoup credits they’ve missed and complete the requirements for graduation.

Where many classes at the high school have as many as 25-30 students registered, an average class at MATEC would be no bigger than 10-15 students. MATEC students take the same required classes and credit load as their classmates at the high school and are still able to earn their high school diploma. This is also true for students from neighboring districts who attend MATEC. Enrolling in an ALC does not require students to open enroll in Marshall.

Students are able to work toward completion of their home district credit and course requirements and high school diploma while attending classes at MATEC.

As we continue to build and expand upon our CTE programming, I’ve had questions about what that means for the MATEC program. Currently, MATEC also houses the welding and CNA classes for Marshall Public Schools.

Originally, this was intended to provide a wider variety of courses and additional opportunities for our students at the ALC. The CTE classes at MATEC are open for students from both MATEC and the High School to attend.

As we work to expand CTE course offerings, we’ve decided to separate the CTE and ALC programs. Students enrolling in these programs have different needs. The new Marshall Career and Technical Institute is scheduled to open this fall with keystone courses in welding, automotive repair, and CNA being offered to all Marshall students. Classes will be scheduled so students have time to transition from either the high school or MATEC for their CTE class and take their core classes at their primary site.

MATEC will continue to operate as a credit-recovery focused ALC that will continue to offer classes for Marshall and area students in grades 9-12.

Anyone interested in learning more about the CTE or ALC programs should reach out to our ALC at 507-537-6210.

— Jeremy Williams is the superintendent at Marshall Schools District