Marion Independent Superintendent Pinion to retire at end of school year

MARION - Marion Independent School District Superintendent Sarah Pinion told school board members at Monday's meeting that she planned to retire at the end of the school year.

Pinion is in her sixth year as Marion's superintendent.

'I think that in her six years, we have had some wonderful experiences in the district and were guided through some difficult financial situations,” Marion Board President David Law told The Gazette. 'I personally enjoyed her professional attitude (from the standpoint of) a parent, staff member and now as a board member.”

During Pinion's tenure, the district showed continued growth in its home school assistance program and incoming open enrollment, opened Vernon Middle School, repurchased Longfellow Elementary School, and renovated parts of the district's football facility.

Also at the meeting, the school board and Marion Education Association formally opened their 21st year of round-table negotiations for a new teachers' contract. The two parties have used that particular method as more of a collaborative, non-adversarial approach to reaching a settlement.