MARSHALL — All Marshall district schools shared reports on Monday regarding staffing, courses, testing results and other important updates ahead of entering the new school year.

Going into the new school year, there are across the board 18 new licensed staff members. Summer program recaps were also shared. The high school credit recovery program had 74 students enrolled. 128 passed out of 148 classes taken, for an overall 86% passing rate. Students in grades first through eighth spent the summer going on educational field trips focusing on animals, agriculture and careers.

Early childhood report

Screening will take place two times a month throughout the school year, which monitors the children’s height, weight, vision, hearing, cognitive development, health history and behavior. Screening is required for public preschool, kindergarten and first grade.

There are no charges for screening.

There are two new faculty members joining early childhood education. Leah Ihrbeck will teach physical education for age three, and Tegan Hicks will teach ages three to five in education.

Park Side Elementary

There are several new staff members for Park Side Elementary this year.

• Marci Bossuyt joins the special education team, replacing Stephanie Koerber who moved.

• Barbara Hammer joins the special education team, replacing Lexi Wolf.

• Tara Stuewee joins the special education team, moving from paraprofessional to teacher and replaces Amber Schaffran.

• Susan Fuhrmann is the kindergarten teacher, replacing Brittany Olson who is moving to second grade at Southview.

• Samantha Mares Olivo, Skylar Valdez, Jackie Braithwaite, Keelee Eastwood, Samantha Ratajczak, Josie Andert and Ethan Donner are new paraprofessionals, replacing some retirements and career moves.

• Genny Veliz is the kindergarten aide, replacing Laurie McDowell who retired.

There are still three para positions open.

Southview Elementary

There are a handful of new employees at Southview, all due to retirement or resignations.

• Amanda Pederson is the new assistant principal, taking over from Nicolle Johnston.

• Brittany Olson will teach second grade.

• McKenzie Benson and Abe Jensen will teach third grade.

• Cheri Compton will teach fourth grade.

• Troy Ljunggren will be teaching second grade physical education.

• Paige Willer joins the special education team.

• Erine Moline, Nicole Bergstrom, Tamara Williams and KelceeJo Spencer join the team of paraprofessionals.

There is one more open para position still to be filled.

For building updates, there was some concrete work around the outside of the building done, and darker, weather resistant carpet was put in on the first level in the hallways to help the look of stains.

The school will also be implementing Building Assets Reducing Risks (BARR) for the second year, which is a framework used to manage Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to help further support students in whatever needs they require assistance with, like in academics or behavioral.

All teachers aside from physical education, music, technology and social emotional learning teachers will be going through updated professional development training to continue meeting state standards for getting students to reach at grade level by integrating evidence based readings.

Middle school

There are no major staffing changes, all certified and non-certified positions are filled.

The middle school will be implementing an expansion of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) classes for sixth grade, and more Spanish courses in the eighth grade. There will also be more opportunities for math and reading enrichment.

New to open house this year, which will take place Sept. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be administrative-led meetings for parents and guardians to go over policies and procedures.

There are a few new building updates including new carpet in the media center and new shades in all classrooms. The theater is nearly completed. New flat panel screens have been installed in the cafeteria and main hallway to show announcements, in addition to new outdoor speakers that are in the works.

High school

Staffing positions are filled for the high school, bringing in a few new employees due to retirements and career moves.

• Steve Howey will be the chemistry teacher, replacing Josh Beebout.

• Jacob Johnson is the business education teacher, replacing Kevin Elton.

• Hayden McKittrick takes over as assistant principal, in replacement of Travis Frazee.

• Tara Ryks joins as a special education teacher, filling Hayden McKittrick’s move.

• Troy Ljundgren will be the physical education teacher, replacing Rachel Dove.

• Jordan Rimpela is an English Learner teacher, replacing Rocio Filace.

• Josie Sonenstahl, Jackson Vierstraete and Ana Busack join as paraprofessionals, replacing Ali Hassig, Correen Bakke and Paula Hunstad.

Ninth graders will attend an orientation program on the first day of school, Sept. 3 beginning at 8 a.m. They will go through orientation with Link Crew leaders, who are upperclassmen at the school, and mini sessions throughout the day.

Tenth graders will begin their day at 11 a.m., eleventh graders at 11:30 a.m. and seniors at 2:15 p.m.

AP testing results were released earlier this summer. Students who score a three or higher receive college credit at most universities throughout the country. There was a substantial increase in both the number of exams taken and number of students who passed with a three or higher.

In 2023, 158 total AP exams were taken, where 212 were taken in 2024. 59 students passed in 2023, and 96 passed this year, presenting a 16% increase.

Special education

Initial evaluation results were shared for the 2023-24 school year, which are conducted when there are educational concerns or a student is not on an Individualized Education Program plan (IEP). There were 68 evaluations conducted, and 84% students were eligible for services.

Reevaluations take place minimally every three years for the students already in special education or an IEP. Last year, there were 138 reevaluations and 93% continue to be eligible.

There was a significant increase in initial referrals from 2022-23 to last year, jumping from 29 to 57 eligible students.

First day of school

The high school begins school Sept. 3, while the elementary schools, middle school and MATEC start Sept. 4. Kindergarten will begin Sept. 9.