MARYSVILLE, Wash. — Things will look very different for some Marysville School District students next year. On Wednesday, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to shuffle the deck for some schools.
KIRO 7 spoke to parents, whose reactions ranged anywhere from frustration to relief.
Frustration at the lack of communication. Relief that the future is starting to take shape.
A more than $3 million budget shortfall for Marysville School District, forcing the reconfiguration of two schools, Marysville Middle School and Liberty Elementary School.
Parents are saddened for their kids, more than anything else.
“When I asked her about, that her school was going to be closing, she did kind of feel sad about it. And, she’s wondering where she’s going to go next,” says Liberty parent Patricia Gonzalez.
For some, that uncertainty has been the hardest part.
Here’s what we know. Amongst the changes approved, Marysville Middle School will shut down. Those students will move to other area middle schools. And, the building will be re-purposed for Liberty Elementary.
As for teachers, the district says they will not lose their jobs. Instead, they’ll relocate along with their students. That clear outline of what comes next may help ease concerns.
“The being up in the air, as a parent especially…Knowing where we’re going right now is better than not,” says Missy Livingston.
“Oh, for sure,” echoes fellow parent Amanda Baker. “I have grandparents asking ‘where’s the little one starting Kindergarten?’ and I’m like ‘I don’t know’. It’s even stressful planning ‘where are we even going to school in a few months?’ It’s not that far off.”
Elsewhere, Cedarcrest and Totem Middle Schools will be also restructured to house 7th and 8th graders. Meanwhile, all district elementary schools will convert to K-6.
For its part, the Marysville School District releasing an official statement, which reads (in part): “The Board of Directors collectively shared the difficulty of this decision, strives for the least harm to students, and looks to the future to provide additional opportunities to improve academic outcomes and support for students.”
“They recognize that creating a K—6 grade structure is a significant shift. But, they also recognize the need to improve opportunities and academic outcomes for not only 6th-grade students but all students while being fiscally responsible.”
Those changes are expected to save the district nearly $2.5 million dollars annually. They will take effect in the fall, for the 2025-26 academic year.
But, it’s not just about the changes in the classroom. We spoke with a parent at Liberty Elementary, where the principal speaks Spanish, who says that ability to communicate helped bridge the gap for some families.
Yet another parent was almost brought to tears, saying how frustrated she was with the district’s mismanagement and the school closures as a result.
The Board of Directors confirmed it will schedule a community meeting for public comment, sometime between now and March. That will give parents, and the community, another opportunity to voice their concerns.
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