“It’s exciting and daunting,” she said about the future of education and the challenges ahead.

Berg added that moving the district forward in technology will give students in the district a big advantage over other students.

“This is the most excited I’ve been about a program in a lot of years,” she said. “I can’t wait to see our kids leap-frog” over the competition.

eduro will not only help teach the kids about technology, but also the teachers. It will train and support them over five years.

District technology director Scott Beebe said the professional development of the teachers in technology “will pay big dividends in achievement” for the students.

In other school board news Jan. 5:

• Brooke Wherley was honored as the first girl to win an individual high school state title in Marysville history. She won the diving title this year after placing second last year, which was her first season taking up the sport. She has received an academic scholarship to the University of Arizona and would like to continue diving there. Being an elite gymnast helped her make the transition, and she helped change the culture of the team by practicing hard, added her coach, Jaci Legore Hodgins.

• Principal Tarra Patrick gave an update on Totem Middle School. She talked of challenges that remain, but also efforts to improve, including a Positive Behavior Intervention System. She said teachers are participating in a peer review, where they find out what other teachers are doing in the building and also trying something new.

•In the work session, Principal Lynn Heimsoth gave an update on Shoultes Elementary School. She talked about how the demographics have changed at the school in the past 15 years, from 90 percent to 57 percent white. She told how free lunches have increased from 35 percent to 60 percent. Heimsoth explained how paraprofessionals are helping so that students receiving daily intervention help has increased from 70 to 110 this year. “Those with the most need are helped by the most qualified in the smallest groups,” she said. As a result of that individual attention, she said scores of those students have increased 74 percent. The first-graders, who have the highest level of poverty and the most students, are struggling with only 50 percent improving. English Language Learners efforts include working with poverty kids, too. Self-regulation and self-calming efforts are helping with behavior.

• Berg presented a certificate to the school board, since it’s school board appreciation month. She thanked the board for taking time away from their families to be “guardians of all our kids.”

• Community member Preston Dwoskin presented an inspirational award to the school board.

In concluding remarks, board members said:

• Pete Lundberg said he is looking forward to the state legislative session. “It will be interesting to see how they try to get the Supreme Court off their back and fund basic education.”

• Bruce Larsen said, “Education has come a long ways,” in that years ago it was only for those who were well-off. He added he attended many school concerts before Christmas and, “The teachers have their hands full.”

• Chris Nation said, “New taxes have to be in the conversation” to fully fund schools. “It’s a small price to pay.” He said he expects it to be a “mad house” in Olympia as lawmakers try to “find a way out (of funding education) instead of doing what’s right.”