[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17131]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              MARSHALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MARSHALL, MINNESOTA

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I honor the Marshall Public 
School District, in Marshall, MN, which recently earned an Award for 
Excellence in Education for its exceptional and innovative achievements 
in educating children.
  The Marshall Public School District is truly a model of educational 
success. Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes nominated the local school district 
for an Award for Excellence, based largely upon the many programs 
offered through a collaboration of the school district, the city, and 
local businesses.
  The programs include the Marshall Public School District's Mentor 
Connection Program, which gives students an opportunity to shadow 
Marshall business, nonprofit, and government leaders; the Talents 
Academy, which pairs the brightest instructors with gifted students at 
a very early age; and the Marshall East Campus Learning Alternative, 
MECLA, Program, the district's alternative education program for 
students at risk of dropping out of high school. All of these reflect 
the belief of the Marshall community that ``all children are important 
resources.''
  The growth and achievement shown by Marshall's students have supplied 
benchmarks for other Minnesota school districts. Students achieved 90 
percent reading proficiency and 80 percent math proficiency on the 
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests. Over 50 percent of Marshall's 
teachers have at least a master's degree.
  The Emerging Leadership Investment Program for Marshall's minority 
residents demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration on the local 
level. The partnership between the city, its schools, and its 
businesses has also produced an extremely successful intramural sports 
program at Marshall High School, which allows a cross section of 
students to interact socially in a structured, recreational setting, 
while benefiting from physical activity. The program will be expanded 
this fall to deliver the same opportunities to middle school children. 
In addition, foreign languages, creative writing, and science clubs 
will be added to afterschool activities.
  Mayor Byrnes said, ``Our community is fortunate to understand the 
common goal of educating our youth and developing communities that 
demonstrate their interest in our youth. Communities that value youth, 
in the end, will retain youth for its sustainable future.''
  In 2005, the Marshall High School received a three-star rating in 
math and a five-star rating in reading from the Minnesota Department of 
Education; the junior high school received a four-star rating in math 
and a three-star rating in reading; and the elementary schools received 
three-star ratings in both math and reading.
  Much of the credit for the Marshall Public School District's success 
belongs to its superintendent, Mr. Klint Willert, and the dedicated 
principals, teachers, and staff. The students and staff at Marshall 
Public Schools understand that, in order to be successful, a school 
must go beyond achieving academic success; it must also provide a 
nurturing environment where students can develop the knowledge, skills, 
and attitudes for success throughout life. All of the faculty, staff, 
and students at Marshall Public Schools should be very proud of their 
accomplishments.
  I congratulate the Marshall Public School District in Marshall for 
winning the Award for Excellence in Education and for its exceptional 
contributions to education in Minnesota.

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