The MVSD Board of Directors have begun the search for a new Superintendent to take over for the retiring Tom Venable. The Board has selected Northwest Leadership Associates to assist in our search.

For more information see our Superintendent Search page.

The Liberty Bell Mountain Lions will host the Adna Pirates at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 16th in a a first round State Football Playoff match up. Liberty Bell enters the postseason as the #6 seed; Adna is the #11. The winner of the game will advance to play the winner of Columbia Burbank at Napavine (full bracket here).

Admission is $11 for adults and $8 for seniors, students, and military personnel. Tickets may be purchased at the gate (cash or check only). Digital tickets are available through GoFan. Live stream available on NFHS.

Go Mountain Lions!

photo credit: Alisha McMillan

As we approach Veterans Day, we wish to pause for a moment and express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our nation’s veterans.

More than just a day off, Veterans Day is a day dedicated in honor of our nation’s veterans, their service in support of our country, and world peace.

Observed annually on November 11th in the United States, it originated as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919 – the first anniversary of the end of World War I. It became a national holiday beginning in 1938, “dedicated to the cause of world peace…”

Please join us as we thank our nation’s many veterans, some who call the Methow Valley home.

All MVSD schools and the district office will be closed on Monday, November 11 in recognition of Veterans Day.

The LBHS Boys and Girls XC teams are headed to the Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco, Washington where they'll compete for the WIAA 2024 2B Boys and Girls XC State Meet.
The meet will mark the 14th consecutive appearance for the boys, 9th by the girls. Additionally, the boys team will be crowned the WIAA 2024 2B XC Academic Champions. The girls team finished a close second.
Please join us as we congratulate the LBHS boys and girls team, their coaching staff and thank the LBHS Booster Club, Winthrop Kiwanis Club, and PSFA for their continued support of our student-athletes, athletic programs, and many extracurricular activities.
We'd also like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Methow Valley community for their continued support of our students and their success through successful passage of our local levies.
We can't do it alone. We can do it together!
Grrr...

The MVSD is thrilled to announce that three of LBHS's fall sports teams have been recognized as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) 2024-25 2B Fall Academic State Champions. The Mountain Lion Football, Girls Soccer, and Boys Cross Country teams have each earned top honors for their outstanding academic performance, proving that excellence in the classroom is just as important as achievement on the field.
These teams were awarded the prestigious Academic State Champion title based on their remarkable combined grade point averages (GPAs), demonstrating the commitment, discipline, and dedication of these student-athletes both academically and athletically.

• Boys Cross Country
• Football
• Girls Soccer

In addition, the team with the highest combined GPA of all, the LBHS Girls XC team, narrowly missed receiving a similar honor in their category. Nonetheless, this achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our student-athletes, who continue to set a high standard of academic excellence.
LBHS Athletics Director Michael Wilbur shared, “We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes for excelling both in the classroom and on the field. These honors reflect their commitment to success in all areas of their lives, and we couldn’t be more excited for them. They truly embody the values of our community.”
The WIAA Academic State Champions program recognizes student-athletes who excel academically while participating in interscholastic sports, and these titles serve as an inspiration to others striving for success both in their studies and athletics.
Please join us as we proudly recognize our amazing student-athletes, their coaches, teachers, and parents. It's a team effort.
Grrr...

It was a busy and important weekend for Liberty Bell High School fall sports teams, with key contests on November 1st and November 2nd helping to clarify the postseason paths ahead. Here’s a brief rundown of the action, as well as a look at what’s next.

Remember, the Central Washington B (CWB) League website is a great place for standings and league scores, and also has playoff information, as does the WIAA site (click on “Fan Info” and then “Brackets” for this immensely useful search tool to find league, district and state brackets). The Week at a Glance, shared via email on Mondays and available on our athletic website (hover on “more” and choose Week at a Glance) and under each season on the athletics page on our district website , has Liberty Bell game and departure times.

Cross Country

Both the boys and the girls teams punched their ticket to State with strong performances in the District 5 Championship on Saturday, November 2nd. The girls, led by Ingrid Venable, who placed third overall, and Alida Burt, who finished in sixth, claimed the District 5 title. On the boys side, Dexter Delaney followed up his individual league championship with a 1st in Districts, helping the boys to earn a trip to State and a third place team finish. Delaney will look to repeat as State Champ when the teams head to Pasco on Saturday, November 9th.

We’ll send them off with a brief ceremony at 8:30 on Friday, November 8th at LBHS. Here’s a link to WIAA’s “Know Before You Go” for cross country this year, which includes information on race times, ticketing, programs and merchandise, live-streaming, and more.  Congratulations to all our cross country runners and to first year Head Coach Liam Daily.

Football

Liberty Bell played their final league game on Friday, November 1st with a one-sided win against the Tonasket Tigers, earning the Mountain Lions second place in the league standings and the chance to host the loser of a match-up between Cle Elum and River View. River View came out on the losing end and will travel to Liberty Bell this week, date and time TBD. With a win, the Mountain Lions will earn a return to the State Football Playoffs, this time competing in the 2B bracket as an 11-man football squad. Look for an announcement about game time as soon it is determined, along with detailed ticketing information. As this will be a district contest, digital tickets will be available for purchase through GoFan. Cash or check will be accepted at the gate as well. The game will be live-streamed on the NFHS network.

Volleyball

The volleyball squad got their postseason off to a strong start, knocking off Brewster at home in straight sets on October 26th, eliminating the Bears from the CWB League Playoffs. Despite strong play against defending state champ Manson, Liberty Bell lost on Tuesday, October 29th, setting up a loser-out match on Saturday against Okanogan on Saturday. Okanogan secured the victory, claiming the last spot in the District Crossover and ending an excellent season for our volleyball players. They’ll miss the strong play and veteran leadership of senior Rio Bourn-Lott, but watch for big things from this excellent core of young volleyball talent, next year and beyond.

Dear Methow Valley School District Students, Parents, and Community Members,

After 32 rewarding years in public education, I am announcing my decision to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. While this is admittedly bittersweet, I am excited about the next chapter of my life.

I often think back to my arrival in the Methow Valley, equipped with the aspiration of serving as the Methow Valley School District's next Superintendent and a handmade card from my then three-year-old daughter. The card read, "Good luck, Daddy. Please ask them if there's a school for me." Following my interview, I returned home and stated, "Ingrid, there's a school for you. And, the teachers are amazing." That was nearly twelve years ago. The journey since has been transformative, personally and professionally

As Superintendent, I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside a visionary board, dedicated staff, and a supportive community who shows up time and time again in support of our youth. Together, we have fostered a collaborative, purpose-driven environment, creating endless opportunities that honor each and every student. Frequently stated by former board member Mary Anne Quigley, "We can't do it alone. We can do it together!

In preparation for this transition, I want to assure you that I am focused on finishing strong, committed to supporting our students and staff throughout the remainder of this year. 

Looking ahead, the Methow Valley School District Board of Directors will begin the search for a new Superintendent. You can expect to receive more detailed information about the process, opportunities to participate, and updates along the way.

Thank you for the incredible journey we've shared. I am forever grateful.

With gratitude,

Tom

Honoring a Legacy of Service: MVSD Board Director, Gary Marchbank

It is with gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to serve as a school board director that Gary Marchbank announces his decision to step down from the Methow Valley School District Board of Directors, effective December 31, 2024.

During a recent conversation with Gary, he was asked to reflect upon his sixteen years of service as a school board member. Gary expressed a deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment from having served in support of our schools and community - navigating challenges, celebrating successes, and working to help every student reach their full potential.

Gary also emphasized the importance of open dialogue, respect, and relationships during his tenure by sharing his favorite quote: “The greatest human empowerment is the ability to change one’s mind." He added, "Our schools do best when we listen to each other, embrace civil discourse, and seek common ground.”

When asked about Gary, Board Chair Dana Stromberger commended Gary's contributions, stating, “Gary's dedication and commitment to service in support of our schools is truly unparalleled. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy, not to mention some pretty big shoes to fill. Gary has set a standard for what exemplary service on a school board should look like, serving as a model for others to follow.”

Vice-Chair Judith Hardmeyer-Wright added, "I am forever grateful for having been able to serve alongside Gary. His humble nature, listening skills, and strong commitment, particularly in support of the district's Career and Technical Education courses have resulted in the development of pathways toward graduation and beyond that did not previously exist, ensuring every student is valued and feels dignified. In fact, it is Gary who has always said, 'Education is at its best when it provides students with an opportunity to rub elbows with the real world'."

Long-time board member Frank Kline summed it up well by stating, "Gary is friend to all. His servant leadership style, collaborative, solution-oriented approach, and 'focus on the big picture' will be missed dearly."

Extending his heartfelt thanks to the community, Gary concluded our conversation by stating, “Thank you for the privilege of serving. It has been an honor to work in support of a community that cares so deeply about our youth, their education, and their future.”

Looking ahead, the Methow Valley School District will provide more information regarding the process for filling the vacant board seat shortly following his official resignation date.

Until then, please join us as we honor Gary Marchbank for his service in support of the Methow Valley School District.