MARSHALL — The school board held a special meeting Wednesday evening to certify the votes in filling the three open seats that were up for election on the Nov. 5 ballot. Matt Coleman, Mary Swanson and Timothy Van Moer won the largest numbers of votes and have been officially elected.

The official votes show that Coleman led with 3,861, Swanson followed behind with 2,852 and Van Moer tallied 2,590.

Coleman and Anne Marie Vorbach, who both currently serve on the school board, were nearing the end of their terms and up for re-election. Bill Swope’s seat was also open.

“I just want to say congratulations to Matt, Mary Swanson and Tim Van Moer on being elected,” superintendent Jeremy Williams said. “I want to say a public thank you to Anne Marie for your service to the board, and to Bill Swope for your service on the board.”

Vorbach joined the board in February earlier this year to step in for the remainder of Bill Mulso’s term, which also was ending this year. Mulso left his term early to pursue other career opportunities.

Coleman, who serves as board chair, has been on the board since 2006 and has three daughters who grew up and graduated from Marshall.

“I want to thank the community of Marshall for the confidence they have in me,” Coleman said after the election. “I look forward to continuing the great things we’re doing at Marshall public schools.”

Swanson also has children that currently attend or recently graduated from Marshall High School. She said she personally felt like it was time to get involved with giving back to the district.

“(I’m looking forward to) exploring opportunities that we can secure for the future and really getting involved in the community,” Swanson said. “(Also), to get feedback from the community members on what they see in the future of the school district, and opportunities for growth.”

Van Moer has spent a majority of his life living in and around Marshall, and has worked for the city, Schwan’s and is currently with Holy Redeemer. He is looking at joining the board as an opportunity to continue good morals in the school system.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to take active participation, as we continue to cultivate the growth of the Marshall School District, and strive for the good truth and the beautiful,” Van Moer said.

Swope will be retiring after working in the district for decades.

“I was principal here for 28 years, eight years on the board and then seven years I was director of the Pride in the Tiger Foundation in between,” Swope said. “It’s all about the kids.”

Swope also was named in a lawsuit filed by former Marshall Middle School principal Mary Kay Thomas, who claimed was discriminated against for advocating for LGBTQ+ students in 2021, for sexual harassment. The case was dismissed by the U.S. District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in September.

Others running for election in the race were Anne Veldhuisen, Charlotte Wahle and the option for write-ins, which received 103 votes.

The three will join other current members vice chair Sara Runchey, board clerk Jeff Chapman and board treasurer Sara Brink, in addition to board support finance treasurer Sarah Kirchner, superintendent Jeremy Williams and executive assistant Emily Ruppert.

Coleman, Swanson and Van Moer will each be elected to their 4-year terms and sworn in on the first Monday in January 2025.