For the Hub City Times

MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield School Board and Superintendent Dr. Ryan Christianson provided several updates during the April 14 board meeting.

Teacher Contracts

Marshfield teachers coming back in the fall officially have new contracts, and they’ll be working for more money. Both were approved by the board of education during its April monthly meeting at Marshfield Middle School.

Superintendent Dr. Ryan Christianson said what board members approved was a maximum base wage increase of 1.23 percent, plus supplemental pay of nearly 1 percent.

Christianson said groups that are certified as a labor union are restricted to an increase tied to the Consumer Price Index, which is the maximum base wage increase they can have each year.

As for the new contracts, Christianson says anyone who’s not retiring or resigning is getting called back for next year, under a new one-year deal.

Both the pay increases and contract renewals were approved on unanimous votes.

Transition to full-time instruction

Christianson said the transition to full-time, in-person instruction has gone very well at the middle and high schools since students came back from spring break April 5. He said serving lunch has been the biggest challenge.

Christianson also said the district is maintaining its face-covering requirement in schools for students, staff and all visitors for the remainder of the school year. Christianson said that requirement will probably be in place for summer school as well. He also noted that the district has seen a few new positive COVID-19 cases since students returned April 5. That school-by-school information is available on a COVID-19 dashboard on the district’s website.

Graduation

Christianson also said the district is tentatively planning for an in-person graduation ceremony for seniors at the end of May.

Graduation is scheduled for May 29 at 11 a.m.