Following discussion lasting into the late evening following the final two interviews, the Marlette School Board of Education selected North Branch educator and Marlette Schools alumnus James Marshall as their next superintendent in a 6-1 vote.
Marshall, a native of Marlette, was picked over Richard Klee, a former principal at Taylor High School and current superintendent at Beecher Community Schools near Flint. Marshall currently teaches social studies at North Branch High School, where he has also served as a varsity basketball coach.
His hiring brings an end to the superintendent hiring process, led by Marlette’s interim superintendent Lawrence Kroswek in the wake of former superintendent Matthew Karaffa’s resignation. His resignation came amid an investigation into allegations of verbally harassing female teachers, an allegation he also faced in 2020 while serving as high school principal at Memphis Community Schools.
During the investigation, he was placed on paid administrative leave, later being stripped of his athletic director duties after failing to schedule officials for a February basketball game. Accepting the resignation during a special meeting on Thursday, March 9, Marlette board president Neal Bishop says that the “resignation resolves the issues related to the recent investigation. While the District and Mr. Karaffa agree the investigation was thorough, objective, and maintained no assumption of wrongdoing throughout, the expedited resolution of these matters is in the best interests of the Marlette School District, students, and the community.”
With Karaffa’s last day officially being June 30, Marshall will begin his duties on July 1, though the board plans to introduce him to the community at their next meeting on Monday, June 26, at 6:00 p.m.
