The Marysville School District starts this new era as school begins Wednesday, Sept. 9.

“I applaud the courage of the teachers” in being willing to change, Superintendent Becky Berg said.

Starting next month, 2,000 students in grades sixth through 12th will start receiving Chromebooks as technology will be used in their daily academic lives.

Berg admitted that students may be more comfortable than the teachers with the new technology.

“They are digital natives,” she said, adding kids as young as 2 are learning to swipe computer screens. Many teachers are digital immigrants so despite training they may feel a little more vulnerable.

“This is more guide on the side instead of sage on the stage,” Berg said.

She said learning is different nowadays. Instead of controlling the learning, teachers need to structure the learning and let the kids learn with more independence.

“Kids can learn anything,” Berg said.

Another big topic this year is all-day kindergarten, which starts Sept. 14. Berg said the funding for that comes just in time because of the goal of having all first-graders reading at grade level. Doubling the time kids are taught in kindergarten should help kids reach that goal.

“Most parents are positive” about all-day kindergarten, Berg said. “Some aren’t quite ready to part with their child all day,” and half days are an option for them, although after a month or so the kids want to stay all day and moms then are, too.

In some key new personnel moves, Anthony Craig is in a new position as director of Cultural Competency and School Support. His directive is to make sure different cultures are respected in all schools, along with equity for all students. Josh Webb is the director of Counseling and Mental Health Support, a position created to help the district heal after last October’s shooting at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

“The healing is ongoing,” Berg said. “We need to maintain support for students and staff.”

She added students have been amazing in the wake of the tragedy, showing unity and support for one another.

“Students at times know how to get along better than adults because they have open minds,” Berg said.

That doesn’t mean students are perfect. The administration is researching Race in Schools this year after a hate crime at Totem Middle School this summer.

Still, Berg said the students and staff are the strength of the district.

“I love the kids. They are the best around,” she said. “The hope in their eyes, the optimism in school.”

As for the teachers, “They bring their whole selves to work every day.”

Equity is the biggest challenge for the district, she added.

“We need to level the playing field for people in poverty” and others, she said. “They need to learn to build friendships across racial lines and make the world a better place.”

As the schools prepared to open, she commented on a number of other issues.

•Construction on the new cafeteria at Marysville-Pilchuck High School will start in December and be done by fall 2016. The district is looking at what  will take its place.

•A citizens advisory committee has been formed and is looking at the district’s facilities needs. A bond could be proposed.

•Test scores should improve on the Smarter Balance Assessment as teachers align curriculum better to the Common Core standards in its second year. “We still have a lot of work ahead of us,” she said. “Last year we rolled up our shirt sleeves” and gave it our best, she added.

•Community engagement will increase with the addition of a Parent Advisory Council that will meet monthly to increase two-way communication.

•The district will pay for the Scholastic Aptitude Test for all juniors, to remove that economic hurdle for some.

•Elementary schools will used the nonprofit code.org to learn new online skills.

•Elementary students pay $2 for breakfast and $3 for lunch. Secondary students pay 25 cents more.

•Start times range from 7:25 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. at the high schools, 7:55 and 8:30 a.m. at the middle schools, and 9:20 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. at the grade schools.