Marshall Schools Superintendent Lovett to Retire

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Trent Lovett has announced he will retire later this year.

In a letter sent Thursday to the Marshall County Board of Education, Lovett says his retirement will be effective June 30. 

Lovett has served as superintendent for 13 years. He says in his letter "It's been an honor and a privilege being a part of the best school district in Kentucky and beyond for over 45 years."   

Lovett said he believes he's leaving the school district in a good place, with many new construction projects having been completed, including a new South Marshall Middle School, renovations to Marshall County High School and Sharpe Elementary, along with smaller facility upgrades.

Academically Lovett says the district has worked on its Graduate Profile, which is its plan for skills received by all students. Lovett also noted the district's Learning Management system, and a technology plan that includes a device for all students that will be complete in less than three years.

Lovett also touted safety improvements, such as the hiring of eleven new school resource officers, secure vestibules at each school and the hiring of additional mental health counselors in the district.

Lovett said he leaves the district in good shape financially, with a carry forward above what is required, a bonding potential of over ten million dollars, a fleet of buses that is in excellent shape and teachers who have received a thirteen percent raise over the past thirteen years with only five percent being mandated by legislation. 

"It has been an honor to watch you grow and see the accomplishments you have made. I am proud of each of you and I am proud to be forever a Marshall County Marshal!" Lovett said.

You can read his full letter below.


Chairman Randy Travis and Distinguished Members of the Marshall County Board of Education,


It has been an honor and privilege being a part of the best school district in Kentucky and beyond for over 45 years.  I have enjoyed my time as a student and was very well prepared for my future in education.

I attribute any success I might have had to the great teachers and administrators that have gone on before me in the Marshall County School District.

The time has come for me to close this chapter of my life.  It has been an absolute pleasure serving the young people of Marshall County as a teacher, coach and administrator for the past 32 years.  Even though this will be a bittersweet time for me, I have decided to retire on June 30, 2021.

I would first like to thank all of the Board Members I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 13 years as Superintendent.  Donna Perry, Randy Travis, Jackie Prater, Mike Wyatt, Rocky Hudson, David Gilland, Diane Barga, Tiffany Carlson, Jeff Waters, Darla Doss, Amy Waggoner, Mary Beth Riggs and Ledonia Williamson.  I appreciate each of you and the way you have made decisions based on what is best for our students.  

I feel as though the district is in a good place.  We will have completed many new construction projects such as a new South Marshall Middle School, much needed renovations at Marshall County High School and Sharpe Elementary along with smaller upgrades at several different facilities.  We will also have an updated weight room, track and tennis courts completed by the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

Academically we have worked as a District on our Graduate Profile which is our plan for skills received by any student gracing the halls of the schools in the Marshall County School District.  We also have a Learning Management system in place and a Technology plan that includes a device for all students that will be complete in less than three years.

Safety wise we now have eleven resource officers in place with one at each school and three at Marshall County High School.  We have constructed secure vestibules at each of our schools and have employed additional Mental Health Counselors for the District.

As we have suffered through the Pandemic over the past year, we have maintained in-person learning as much as possible while still working to improve our virtual option for those choosing this method of instruction.  Our staff has also been working on a plan for those students who have fallen behind during the past year and have several options available to help all students to transition their learning to the next level.

The district is in good shape financially with a carry forward above what is required, a bonding potential of over ten million dollars, a fleet of buses that is in excellent shape and have given our teachers a thirteen percent raise over the past thirteen years with only five percent being mandated by legislation.  This places our teachers at over 6.5% above the regional average as compared to 2.5% above the regional average thirteen years ago.

For the residents of Marshall County we have maintained the 24th lowest tax rate in the state on Real Estate and the 6th lowest tax rate in the state on Personal Property and our overall equivalent tax rate is the 52nd lowest out of 172 Districts.
  
Our most important asset is our people.  The Administrators, Teachers, Counselors, Support Staff, Bus Drivers, Cooks, Custodians, Maintenance Staff and most importantly our students are the best! 

It has been an honor to watch you grow and see the accomplishments you have made.  I am proud of each of you and I am proud to be forever a Marshall County Marshal!

May God Bless each of you,


Trent Lovett