Longtime board member reflects on 12 years: Smith lists kindergarten, COVID response and facilities among achievements

Outgoing board member Mister Smith delivered extended farewell remarks at the Dec. 11 Marysville Exempted Village School District board meeting, reflecting on 51 years in education and 12 years on the board.

Smith said the district’s expansion of all-day kindergarten and the alternate kindergarten program were among his top accomplishments, citing data that he said showed children who attended full-time kindergarten required less remediation later. He praised the district’s COVID response, saying it relied on local data to prioritize keeping students in classrooms.

Smith also credited improved cooperation between the school district and city government and pointed to the creation of a permanent improvement fund that allowed purchases such as buses, technology, textbooks and facility projects including stadium and track improvements and a competition gym remodel. He said the facilities plan in place will take "6 or 7 years" to implement and urged the next board to continue that long-term work.

In closing, Smith said his guiding principle was "what is in the best interest of our students and our school district" and thanked teachers, administrators, custodians, secretaries, cooks and bus drivers for their service. The board offered applause at the end of his remarks.