On Feb. 25 Marion High School held a school board meeting where the board members discussed a donation and honored two community members.
Dr. Bob Schultz, assistant superintendent of Marion community schools, said to the school board that he attended an event at the Tree of Life atrium about the death of Merlin J. Loew.
Loew has given money to the Marion schools for the past couple of years. Loew recently passed away and had two trusts set up for the Marion community. During the event, Loew’s attorney $3 million his money to over nineteen organizations in Marion.
Schultz said, “Marion community schools received 3 percent from Loew’s second trust that made up $94,830. I did not think Marion schools would receive much because we were only receiving 3 percent.”
Loew had instructions for how each organization should deal with the money given to them. The money given to Marion Community Schools was to be used for food and clothing for the children who cannot afford the necessities.
Dr. Brad Lindsay, superintendent of Marion Community Schools, said, “I am so grateful for Loew’s generosity over the years. He has donated an estimated total of $7 million.”
During the boarding meeting, the board honored Gail Ball, Levi Hofmann and Hailey Teeguarden. Ball served the Marion community for 40 years, as a bus driver. Hofmann and Teeguarden are the top archery shooters in Indiana.
Ball started working for Marion schools in October 1978. Ball said, “I am so happy I accepted the job as a bus driver because I have enjoyed getting to know generations of children over the years.”
She said the school required two things of her: to love children and be able to drive stick shift.
Ball said, “When I took the driving test, she just had to drive around the block without running over curbs.”
Hofmann and Teeguarden competed in an archery contest last week. They finished within the top twenty. Hofmann is ranked 1st in Indiana. Overall, he is ranked 26th in the United States.
The next board meeting will be held on Mar. 12 at 7 p.m. at Marion High School.
