February 20, 2023

Superintendent's Article

     The Marcellus Board of Education held their regular meeting on February 13, where they approved the acceptance of a School Resource Officer Grant Program award in the amount of $109,052.  The grant will be used to help fund a School Resource Officer (SRO) position within the school district and will be dispersed over the course of three years.  The SRO position will be partially supported by fiscal year 2023 grant funds awarded by the state of Michigan and administered by the Michigan State Police. The school district is responsible for a 50% match.

     I am excited to work with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office to secure a highly-trained SRO to work within the school district.  With the school board’s recent approval, I am authorized to pursue the initiative and expect to have an SRO in place by August 1, 2023.

     In other action, the board accepted the resignation of veteran teachers Amy Monroe and Stephen McCloskey.  Both have been with the school district for over 25 years and have chosen to retire at the end of the school year.  I am abundantly grateful for the dedicated service of Monroe and McCloskey and wish them well in retirement. 

     The board also hired Christian Hutson for a Volinia Outcomes School alternative education paraprofessional position.  Hutson has previously served as a substitute teacher and currently serves as a varsity baseball coach in the district.

     The board also reviewed the district’s Continuity of Learning Plan (COL) and invited public comment.  The COL addresses the district’s response to COVID-19 and can be found on the district’s website.  School districts who receive grant funds under the American Rescue Act are required to review and potentially update their COL every six months until September 2023. 

     Finally, Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Director, Mrs. Bohan, presented  the district’s Benchmark Assessment Goal Report.  The report details student achievement on STAR assessments as measured from the beginning to mid year.  The board also approved a field trip request to the 95th Michigan FFA State Convention to be held in March.