MARYSVILLE  – The Marysville School District hopes to hire a Recovery Director using grants following the Oct. 24 shooting.

Superintendent Becky Berg said in the annual meeting with the City Council that it could take from one to five years for the community to heal.

The position will deal with mental health needs, coordinate agencies and more. The district also is  looking into a permanent memorial and  an online thought exchange on what to do with the cafeteria.

Berg also talked about the long legislative session coming up, with leaders being asked to fund basic education and smaller class size.

She also said the district wants to help students graduate in five years or less because “every child develops differently.” She also said an emphasis will be made on first-graders learning to read at grade level.

“One-hundred percent may seem unrealistic, but we’ll go for it,” she said.

Board member Chris Nation added the district needs to do a better job of getting parents to understand the importance of students being in school.

Mayor Jon Nehring talked of city accomplishments.

He talked of the city revitalizing downtown with the hope private enterprise will follow. He talked of transportation improvements and nuisance laws. He talked of hiring six new officers  the past 1 1/2 years and the effort to seek grants for a youth services unit. Similar efforts have reduced burglaries and nuisance complaints.

“If the results are what we think they will be we will then find a way to fund it,” Nehring said.