Marquette area public schools are preparing to undergo some updates to its facilities, curriculum, and staff. The school system is working to implement new instructional coaches in classrooms. These coaches are being brought in with the goal of improving student mental health and academic performance. The instructional coaches would work with teachers to assist with their workload while helping to fill in educational, social, and emotional gaps from the pandemic. MAPS Superintendent Zack Sedgwick said “these instructional coaches come in a nonthreatening manner as a support for our staff, and for our students, and for our administrators in a way that I think helps everybody in a slightly different way.”
The school system has also seen some recent updates to its parking lots and the high schools main entrance as a part of efforts to improve its facilities. Using their sinking fund, the administration is looking to renovate the high schools science labs, as well as create a new college and career readiness class.
The Marquette Area Public School district will also be working with Northern Michigan University to improve the schools security measures. It’s a part of a security audit to improve the schools existing security camera systems. the schools security audit will assess existing parts of their system like ‘here comes the bus’ and outdoor camera systems to suggest upgrades. Sedgwick said “it’s important for us to provide those resources to parents so they have the reassurance to know exactly where their child is, that they’re safe, and well taken care of.”.