As we mark American Educator’s Week, observed annually during the last full week before Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and recognition to all our dedicated staff.

After over 50 years of unwavering support for our students and community, board member and former principal Bill Swope is concluding his term with Marshall Public Schools. This year, Anne Marie Vorbach joined our board to fill a vacancy and has been a passionate advocate for all learners. Both Bill and Anne Marie will be greatly missed, and we deeply appreciate their dedication and commitment.

During recent conferences at Park Side, we provided parents with resources to support their child’s social and emotional development. We encourage parents to continue utilizing these resources at home and to reach out for additional support if needed.

At Southview, we are collaborating with our BARR coach to achieve our goals for the year, with a primary focus on improving student attendance. Through the implementation of U-Time activities, we aim to foster stronger relationships between students, teachers, and peers, which we believe will enhance school attendance.

Each week, all Southview students receive a 30-minute lesson from one of our three SEL teachers. Mrs. Hey teaches second graders, Mrs. Bigler teaches third graders, and Mr. Jacobson teaches fourth graders. Our SEL teachers use the Second Step curriculum to guide students through various situations.

At the end of the first quarter, the Middle School held its first PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) celebration to honor students who consistently demonstrate our tiger traits of Respect, Responsibility, and Pride. The celebration featured a movie screening in our newly renovated theatre.

At Marshall Middle School, our staff are continually finding innovative ways to make learning more engaging and interactive for students with special needs:

• Life skills and social skills classes: These classes focus on activities such as organizing, cleaning, stocking, and assisting staff and families in locating items in the Kindness Closet. Special education students are paired with general education peers to foster meaningful connections. Through these interactions, students develop empathy, patience, and collaboration skills, while also learning appropriate social behaviors and on-task habits. The relationships formed through these activities are truly heartwarming to witness.

• Sunshine Committee: The committee has enlisted the help of special education students to create, make, and assist with monthly staff mailbox notes of encouragement and appreciation.

• Coffee cart: Operating twice a week, the coffee cart allows staff to order beverages and snacks, which students prepare and serve. This activity helps students practice good manners, engage in conversations, count money, make change, manage inventory, and procure supplies.

On Tuesday, October 29, the Marshall Honor Society hosted its annual blood drive at the High School, with 62 students and staff signing up to donate. By the end of the day, over 40 units of blood were collected.

In recognition of Veteran’s Day on Monday, Nov. 11, we ran altered schedules to help students learn, reflect, and understand the sacrifices made by so many American citizens, allowing us to enjoy our freedoms.

We have had an exceptional fall season with our athletics, achieving three Big South championships, one district championship, six teams winning or placing second in their sections, one state runner-up, and one state champion. Congratulations to all our programs for their successful competitions:

• Cross Country: Both the boys’ and girls’ teams advanced to state. The girls’ team placed eighth, led by Katelyn Leibfried, who finished 22nd. The boys’ team won the championship, with Sam Deutz finishing ninth. Congratulations to both teams on an outstanding season.

• Girls swimming: Autumn Deutz and Finley Pelz represented our program at the state meet on November 14th, performing admirably.

• Volleyball: The team secured second place at the MSHSL state tournament. Congratulations to Avery Fahl, Reese Drake, and Brooke Gillingham for being named to the all-tournament team, and thank you to everyone who supported the team.

• Football: The Tigers reached the state semifinals but were defeated by Becker at the US Bank Stadium last week. Congratulations to Gavin Schaefer, player of the year; Jake Allex, Lineman of the year; JR Vierstraete, D-Lineman of the year; and Jack Meier, Linebacker of the year.

Our Middle School Knowledge Bowl teams have excelled, with all four teams placing in the top six, and three teams securing first, second, and third places. Additionally, the Middle School Conservation Crew has been actively involved in a national project, testing water and reporting their findings.

On Monday, Nov. 4, the MHS Concert Choir (grades 11 and 12) traveled to Redwood Falls to participate in the Big South Choral Festival. The festival included individual school performances, a 30-minute clinic with the guest conductor, an Honor Choir, and a Mass Choir performance.

The Activities Department extends its gratitude to all the support staff who make our events possible. This fall, we hosted 46 varsity events, and none of it would have been possible without the dedication of our ticket takers, scorekeepers, line judges, officials, and many others.

Our first MPS Advisory Committee Meeting will be held on Nov. 26. The committee, comprising parents, faculty, students, and community members, will review our Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Plan (CACR) and provide feedback.

On November 27th, students will have a noon dismissal, and licensed staff will participate in a professional development afternoon. Those involved in the state reading OL&LA Training will attend their first live session with a facilitator.

We have launched our United Way campaign, which will run for six weeks. This campaign allows our employees to support an organization that generously contributes to the needs of our students in Marshall and across Lyon County. This year, we are also offering the option to donate to Pride In The Tiger Foundation, with the same giving options as the United Way.

When planning the FY25 budget, we anticipated a general fund deficit of $1,119,740 and a total deficit across all funds of $766,925. As of October, our general fund revenues have exceeded expenses by $256,949. This is an anticipated start to the budget year, with lower staffing expenses in the summer.

We are engaging in regular discussions about future budget planning, involving the board, administrative team, and other stakeholders. We will seek input through staff listening sessions and other collaborative efforts as we complete our annual audit, process the current revised budget, and start planning for next year’s budget.

— Jeremy Williams is the superintendent of Marshall Public Schools