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As the school year gets underway, there is a great deal of excitement and positive momentum across Marshall Public Schools. From welcoming our youngest learners to celebrating student success in academics, activities, and athletics, our staff and students have been hard at work building a strong foundation for the year ahead.
Park Side Elementary
First-grade students had the opportunity to visit their classrooms, meet their teachers, and become familiar with the school before the year began. Kindergarten and early childhood teachers spent the first week meeting with students and families while conducting assessments to better understand each child's academic, social, and emotional needs. For many students, this marks their first school experience, and our staff is committed to making that transition a positive one.
Park Side is excited to offer new parent engagement opportunities this year, including a Love and Logic Parent Workshop. Already, 23 parents have registered for the program, which focuses on helping parents set loving limits while teaching children responsibility and problem-solving skills.
Southview Elementary
Southview Elementary has been busy establishing strong systems and connections for the year. New staff committees have been formed to focus on safety, parent involvement, attendance, Tiger Traits, celebrations, and staff engagement.
The school continues to implement the BARR (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) framework, including Small Block and Big Block supports, while Community Connect partnerships provide additional resources for students and families. Staff are intentionally focusing on strengthening relationships and promoting our Tiger Traits: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe.
Students recently participated in station rotations to learn and practice expectations throughout the building, and teachers are completing beginning-of-year assessments, including i-Ready, DIBELS, and CAPTI, to help guide instruction and support student success.
Marshall Middle School
Marshall Middle School experienced tremendous participation during Open House and Picture Day, with more than 600 students attending. Students explored their schedules, met teachers, practiced locker combinations, and prepared for the year ahead.
The new parking lot has received positive feedback from families and staff, and traffic flow continues to improve as everyone becomes familiar with the updated procedures.
Middle school students have completed the CAPTI ReadBasix assessment, which helps identify students who may need support in foundational reading skills such as word recognition and decoding.
The Kindness Closet continues to serve as an important resource for students and families, offering clothing and necessities.
Our sixth-grade students also attended the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at Memorial Park, providing an important opportunity to learn about and reflect on a significant event in our nation's history.
Marshall High School
At Marshall High School, seniors are providing positive feedback on the new Apple MacBook Neo devices, and staff have observed increased student engagement following updates to the district's Personal Electronic Device Policy.
Ninth-grade students are making a successful transition into high school, and staff continue encouraging all students to stay engaged with assignments and coursework.
Sophomores recently attended the annual Career Fair at Southwest Minnesota State University, helping them explore post-secondary and career opportunities.
Homecoming Week is just around the corner, taking place Sept. 28 through Oct. 1, and students are looking forward to a week filled with school spirit and Tiger pride. Come join us at one of the many home events next week and cheer on our Tigers!
Students from Marshall High School, the Area Learning Center, and CTI will also participate in a Mock Crash event at the Lyon County Fairgrounds. Held every four years, this powerful experience highlights the dangers of impaired and distracted driving through partnerships with local emergency responders and community organizations.
Area Learning Center
The Area Learning Center continues its commitment to continuous improvement and student success. Staff are completing Year 2 of their COMPASS Comprehensive Needs Assessment and have implemented a new intake process and Career Learning Plan framework.
The ALC has also launched new Credit Recovery courses in each core academic area and has already celebrated a student successfully completing missing coursework and earning a passing grade.
Activities and athletics
Our students continue to excel beyond the classroom. Tiger Volleyball successfully hosted the 32-team Southwest Challenge and finished an impressive fourth place.
The Activities Department will soon meet with all ninth-grade students to introduce the many clubs, performing arts programs, activities, and athletic opportunities available at Marshall High School and encourage students to get involved.
Looking ahead, Marshall will host the Big South Conference Swimming Championship in October, marking the first time our community has hosted the event since joining the conference.
Thank You to Our School Board
September is School Board Recognition Month, and we extend our sincere gratitude to the members of the Marshall Public Schools Board of Education. School board members dedicate countless hours to governing the district, establishing policy, overseeing finances, supporting student achievement, and representing the interests of our community. Their commitment and leadership play an essential role in ensuring our schools continue to provide outstanding opportunities for students. Thank you for your service and dedication to Marshall Public Schools.
Minnesota Permanent School Fund
This fall, Minnesota voters will consider a constitutional amendment related to the state's Permanent School Fund. The Permanent School Fund was established to support public education through revenues generated from school trust lands, with earnings distributed annually to school districts across the state. These funds help provide ongoing support for Minnesota's students and schools.
The proposed amendment would update the Minnesota Constitution to allow up to 5% of the Permanent School Fund's market value to be distributed each year. This approach is designed to provide a stable and predictable funding source for public education while preserving the long-term strength of the fund. Importantly, the amendment would not raise taxes, and it was approved with bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats in the Minnesota Legislature before being placed on the ballot.
Supporters note that the amendment uses a structure similar to other large permanent funds, balancing annual distributions with long-term investment growth. The intent is to ensure the fund remains sustainable over time rather than depleting its principal, allowing future generations of Minnesota students to continue benefiting from this important educational resource.
As with any ballot question, voters are encouraged to review information from multiple sources and make an informed decision before casting their vote. Learn more at https://www.mnpsfamendment.org
As you can see, it has been an exciting and productive start to the school year across Marshall Public Schools. Thank you to our students, families, staff, school board members, and community members for your continued support. Together, we are creating opportunities, building connections, and helping every Tiger succeed.
-- Jeremy Williams is superintendent of Marshall Public Schools