As we prepare to welcome students back for a new school year, I’ve been reflecting on the remarkable way our community has come together since last month’s flooding. I have been inspired by the compassion, teamwork and generosity shown by so many — from neighbors helping neighbors to volunteers, city crews, and local organizations working side by side on emergency response and repairs.

This collective spirit has been a powerful reminder of what makes Marshall such a special place for our students, families and staff.

Further, I could not be prouder of how our district team responded in the hours and days after the flooding at Marshall Middle School. Our maintenance staff and custodians moved quickly to contain the damage and protect equipment and supplies. Their dedication, combined with strong support from the community, has kept repairs on track and ensured that critical improvements – like upgrades to our drainage system – are already underway to help prevent future issues.

Thanks to their hard work, we are confident the building will be ready and safe when our students return.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about what we can accomplish this school year, given the tremendous progress we have made the past few years. We’re seeing strong gains in middle school math and science, more younger students meeting benchmarks, and a growing interest in handson learning — with Career and Technical Institute enrollment up 18% this year. From early literacy to career prep, our programs are helping every student find their path, and the results are showing.

This fall will also bring an important community decision – one that will shape the future of our schools and our ability to keep providing these opportunities for students.

Like many districts across Minnesota, Marshall Public Schools is feeling the strain as state funding has not kept pace with rising costs. This gap has already meant reducing teaching staff, trimming classroom support, and scaling back programs – and the district still had to tap $1.1 million from its cash reserves to get through this year.

Next year’s deficit is projected at $1.8 million, and without additional funding, the school board will be forced to make deeper cuts and draw down reserves even further. At that pace, reserves could be gone within three years, and the deficit is expected to double in the next four — putting essential programs, staff and student opportunities at risk.

That’s why the school board has placed an operating levy on this November’s ballot. If approved, it would provide $2 million a year for the next decade — stabilizing district finances, protecting class sizes, maintaining programs, and helping us retain our talented teachers and staff. It would also allow us to preserve emergency reserves for unexpected events like the recent flooding.

For the owner of a home valued at $225,000 — roughly the district median — the levy would mean an estimated tax increase of about $26 per month. We know there’s never an easy time to make this kind of request, but we also know we can’t cut our way to a stronger future for our children.

I encourage all residents to learn more about the referendum and its impact on our schools by visiting tomorrowstigers.org. The website includes details about the investment plan, cost and tax impact, as well as voting information. You can also submit questions, and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.

Just as we worked together to meet the challenge of the recent flooding, I want to thank everyone in our community for your ongoing support of Marshall Public Schools.

— Jeremy Williams is superintendent of Marshall Public Schools.