MSD Weekly Update
Keeping you informed
A note from Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh
Welcome back, and happy New Year! We hope your winter break brought moments of rest, laughter, and time with loved ones. As we settle back into routines, it’s hard to believe we’re already in the final weeks of the semester; just three weeks remain. This time of year often offers students opportunities to pause, reflect, and share what they’ve been learning.
In the coming weeks and months, students will take part in school and state assessments, and as we approach these opportunities, we aim to focus on each student’s growth, effort, and progress rather than pressure. Each day is another chance for students to show how far they’ve come, and we are grateful for family partnership in these efforts.
Ages 18–22 Programs & Community Partnerships
Across our schools, some of the most meaningful learning happens when students step into real-world experiences. Some of our students, ages 18–22, who are served in special education, continue to grow through hands-on learning supported by teachers and support staff who know them well. Whether practicing job skills, building independence, or celebrating small but important successes, this work is deeply personal and powerful.
We are especially thankful for our community partners who welcome our students into workplaces and provide opportunities that help turn classroom learning into life skills. These partnerships tell a beautiful story of trust, inclusion, and shared commitment. You can read more about one of our transition programs, TIER, in the featured section of this week’s newsletter below.
Deborah Rumbaugh, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Shout out to our Maintenance Staff!
State of Communications Survey 📣
The survey is short, anonymous, and the results will help determine what the future of communications looks like across MSD. Thank you in advance for your feedback and partnership!
Don't miss the Financial Aid Workshop next week!
Join us at Legacy High School next Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 6 pm for our last Financial Aid Workshop of the school year! The workshop will provide 1-on-1 assistance to students and families completing their financial aid applications (FAFSA & WASFA). Here's what you should know:
✅ Every student nearing graduation should fill out either the FAFSA or the WAFSA. These forms help connect students with financial aid not just for college, but also for apprenticeships, certificates, and other job training programs after high school.
✅ This workshop is open to all high school Seniors across MSD and their parents/guardians.
✅ Presentations and assistance will be offered in English and Spanish.
✅ To get things started, parents and students will need to bring their tax and personal information.
See you there!
Transition, Independence, Employment, Readiness 🌟
Nestled among the trees next to our Early Learning Center is TIER House, which is home to one of four 18-22 transition programs in the Marysville School District.
TIER is an acronym that stands for “Transition, Independence, Employment, Readiness,” and students who participate in this program are learning and practicing independent living skills each day.
Through TIER House, students are provided opportunities each week to practice cooking, finance, and navigating public transportation. They travel to sites around the community, volunteering at the food bank, fitness centers, grocery stores, retailers, and restaurants to learn valuable job skills first-hand. These students also collaborate with local advocacy and support organizations to develop self-advocacy and other independence skills.
Students who receive special education services are eligible to attend transition programs after high school until they are 22 years old. The length of time they stay depends on their needs and goals, and students receive their diplomas as they exit the program.
While these services are required by federal law, the magic of these transition programs is a direct result of the passionate staff and community partners who come together to support students of all abilities as they prepare for their next chapter of life.
Diana Furgason-Green is one of three staff members who lead TIER, and she says, “If I have my way, I will stay until I retire.”
She goes on to add: “My motto is that the last day of this program should look like the first day of the rest of my students' lives, and this is how I will know if I did my job successfully. Meaning these young adults will know how to successfully navigate the community, community transit, where to find help for their various needs, how to make an appointment, manage their finances, order at a restaurant, cook a meal, grocery shop, hold a job with or without support, and most importantly, will know how to advocate for their needs.”
Thank you to the dedicated adults who make these programs happen! 🙌
