If a person were to attend, or watch on local TV the Marshall School District board meetings, one of the first items every time is an open forum. While the board specifically states that no action will be taken, they are there to “listen to what is brought up” during this open forum time.

After watching the last two meetings, I am wondering why this item is even on the agenda?

Indeed, they allow community members, staff, and others to present ideas, suggestions or maybe even dialog that they have had with the schools. Specifically in watching the last two meetings there have been numerous individuals, teachers, MEA members, staff and even community members discuss the reductions that have been proposed, and now acted upon after the result of the failed operating referendum. The overwhelming comments made to the board was “please revisit the budget,” “pause,” “take a fresh look at all areas” to see if something could be done to retain teachers, keep programs and activities. Yet at the conclusion of the last two meetings the board choose not to listen but instead voted in favor of making the proposed recommendations.

In the Tuesday edition of the Marshall Independent, Superintendent Jeremy Williams clearly writes that over the past year they have been transparent about needed budget reductions. His column goes on to say that “every position and program has been reviewed.”

But somehow at the end, there was little to no reductions in the district office, why?

I suppose you consider the elimination of the one position that was created a few years ago because of legal action, as part of cuts. Therefore, you cut the position that you added.

What about the other added positions in the district office?

Over the past years, with increased enrollment one specific position handled everything.

Now with enrollment being less, we need two people to do this work?

To me it looks like there was very little transparency involving all stakeholders through this process.

The MEA brought up that they could present savings of over one million dollars to the district. Either reducing or eliminating the “full health care” package for 20 plus individuals could be another area of savings.

How about across the board cuts?

If everyone, including administration took a small percentage of pay cut, would that help?

Would cutting overall expenses including athletics, and all activities by a small 2-5% work?

How much would that save. If everyone suffered a little, just maybe drastic reductions such as those acted upon would not be necessary.

Did you consider putting student and teachers first when considering reductions?

It’s really too bad that cuts have to be made. But the public has spoken. And now that the superintendent and board choose not to listen to, or work with others in making these cuts. The creditably and trust that they have with the public is damaged.

It’s my opinion only, but it will take years to build up that trust again. I for one have determined that the present superintendent and school board deserves a vote of “no confidence” for how they have handled these reductions.

— Russ Labat is a Marshall resident and former publisher of the Marshall Independent