Marshfield School Committee Approves Superintendent's Goals, Capital Budget Request

District focuses on student engagement, protocols, and $11.8 million in improvements

MARSHFIELD, MA - October 8 - The Marshfield School Committee has approved Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan's goals for the 2023-2024 school year and a five-year capital budget request totaling $11.8 million.

Dr. Sullivan presented three main goals focusing on student voice and engagement, fostering effective protocols and procedures, and creating a district-wide belonging team to address diversity, equity, and inclusion.

"I will focus the district on student voice and engagement, the theme of 'through the eyes of the student,'" Sullivan said.

Key strategies include implementing learning walks in each building, engaging in professional development sessions, and working with building leaders to create three new initiatives in each school to promote student voice and agency.

Sullivan plans to create a Superintendent Student Advisory Council comprising eight high school students, six middle school students, and two elementary students. The council will serve as ambassadors of student voice throughout the district.

"I'm really looking for students who have that leadership potential and maybe haven't had that fire of leadership under them," Sullivan explained.

The Superintendent's second goal involves collaborating with leadership and, when appropriate, the Marshfield Police and Fire Departments to foster effective protocols, procedures, and systems in the district.

Sullivan's third goal focuses on creating a district-wide belonging team to address diversity, equity, and inclusion, wellness, and social-emotional learning.

"I don't want this to supplant the work that's already being done at the buildings," Sullivan said. "What we're looking to do is broaden that, bring it into one group, get the community involved, because the community has to be involved in this, and get our students involved."

The school committee also approved a five-year capital budget request totaling $11.8 million. The request will be submitted to the town's Capital Budget Committee for consideration.

Tom Miller, the district's business and finance director, presented the capital plan, which includes funding for building accessibility improvements, roof restorations, and technology upgrades across the district.

"The first item is the second phase of addressing accessibility issues at South River School," Miller said. "The first phase was that ramp that I'm sure everybody has seen that was approximately $170,000. The second phase is installing an elevator lift."

Other significant items in the capital request include:

- $2.5 million for roof restoration at Daniel Webster Elementary

- $1.1 million for technology upgrades and equipment replacement

- $178,000 for parking lot improvements at Marshfield High School

- $650,000 for special education eight-passenger vans over five years

- $1.5 million for emergency paving and curbing district-wide

- $3.5 million for roof replacement at Martinson Elementary

Miller emphasized that the capital budget request is a planning document and subject to change. "It eventually goes to the town capital budget committee on November 15th, and then we'll be meeting with them afterwards," he said.

School Committee Chair Sean Costello clarified for the public that the vote was not to fund these projects but to approve the request to the Capital Budget Committee.

"We're not voting over the next five years to devote $11.8 million to these projects. We're approving this as an ask to the town with their capital budget," Costello said.

The committee also discussed the need for an updated revenue-sharing agreement with the town to address capital funding needs.

"We need to update our revenue-sharing agreement with the town, and we need to ensure that it's actually followed," Costello added.

The next Marshfield School Committee meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 at Eames Way Elementary School.