MARSHFIELD – On Dec. 10, the Marshfield School Board received updates connected to the capital referendum and future parking expansion and approved a new iPad lease agreement.
The projects are expected to progress on different timelines in the coming years.
According to district records, the Curriculum and Instruction Committee met Nov. 19 at the Marshfield Board of Education Office, where committee members reviewed a proposed lease agreement with Apple Inc. to supply updated devices for the district’s 1:1 technology program.
The committee determined that iPads continue to meet instructional needs for students in grades 4K through 12.
The full board later approved the lease, which is projected to reduce annual costs by about $67,000.
Staff parking lot
The Facility, Safety, and Transportation Committee also met in November to consider a proposal for a new staff parking lot at the high school.
Planning for the project will continue and the board will give further consideration to the proposal at a future meeting.
While not part of the district’s referendum package, the parking lot will be added to the campus plan.
A start date for construction has not yet been set.
Committee members discussed short and long-term parking needs as existing staff and bus transfers on the north side of the campus will be unavailable during referendum-related construction. Short-term solutions include overflow parking at Hume and Becker and the current student lot.
The long-term plan involves constructing a new parking lot west of Marshfield High School to expand staff parking and improve access to the baseball field.
The committee will work with Rettler to develop cost estimates and prepare a bid proposal.
Facility improvements
On Nov. 5, 2024, the community approved a $71,575,000 capital referendum aimed at a series of district-wide facility improvements.
Projects include secure entrances, replacement of the indoor chiller and cooling tower, ventilation upgrades, an expanded wrestling facility and updates to technical and agricultural education spaces.
The most significant construction period is projected between March and September 2027, primarily affecting Marshfield High School and causing related impacts on elementary schools.
District officials noted the importance of minimizing overlap between student attendance and major construction work.
According to district documents, beginning the 2026–27 school year on or after Sept. 1, 2026, could interfere with construction of the high school kitchen and other food service areas and may lead to instructional disruptions and additional project costs.
To address this concern, the board approved an early stated date of Aug. 27, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year.
The change was made under an “extraordinary events” provision that permits schedule modifications.
The updated timeline still requires approval through an additional application process.
District documents state that the adjustment is intended to reduce disruption and support the timely completion of capital improvement projects.
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