Medfield Public Schools

thing that we do,” says Dr. Marsden. Another approach Medfield Public Schools takes is ensuring each student has a trusted connection within the school system. “We think that’s an important piece of school, is to make sure that every kid has someone they can talk to,” he stresses. “And the other piece at our high school is that our students make meaningful connections with their peers. Over 90% of our students are either playing a sport, involved in theater, or the band.” The district excels in sports, winning 27 state championships in 11 sports since 1997.Medfield also takes pride in its impressive achievements in band, orchestra and theater , all of which showcase student talents and promote a sense of engagement and belonging. “Every time you go to an event, whether it’s theater, band, or a sporting event, you are just so proud of what they do outside the classroom. It’s so impressive and just incredible,” Dr. Marsden shares. FUTURE INVESTMENT AND PLANS Detailing a five-year collaboration with the state to fund the construction of a new net zero elementary school, Dr. Marsden notes that the town’s governance model mandated a 66% majority vote at the town meeting for the new school’s approval. Despite obtaining 62%, they fell short of the required threshold, leading to exclusion from the state program. “That puts us back into applying to the state for that additional funding to get back into the program.We still have a school building committee that meets every month. Unfortunately, we’re not back into the state program, which at the time would give us $21 million in reimbursement toward our new building.” “We’re still working on that particular piece,” he depicts. Other ongoing investments include roofing upgrades and solar installations throughout the district, taking advantage of both cost savings and sustainability opportunities. LOOKING AHEAD Moving forward, Dr. Marsdon discusses ongoing 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 03