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Marshall Public Schools approves Ford Future Builder Lab curriculum after state grant and philanthropy support
Summary
The Marshall Public Schools board approved a high-school Fab Lab curriculum funded by a MEEDC grant ($410,000) and $90,000 from Ford Philanthropy; staff described plans for MIT Fab Lab certification, equipment purchases, and phased K–12 rollouts emphasizing project-based learning and workforce micro-credentials.
The Marshall Public Schools Board of Education on March 9 approved a high-school curriculum for a new Ford Future Builder Lab, district staff said, clearing the way for a phased K–12 rollout that leaders said will emphasize hands-on, project-based learning tied to community problems.
District presenters said Marshall received $410,000 from a Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEEDC) competitive grant (one of 10 awards totaling $1.54 million) and that Ford Philanthropy contributed an additional $90,000 for high-school programming. The grant will fund consultants (referred to as DevX) and help set up fabrication labs that staff described as an MIT Fab Lab model.
"We were the only school in Calvin County to apply for the grant," a presenter said, and district staff described collaborative work by teachers and administrators to align units from sixth grade through 12th grade.
Tara Varner, principal of Marshall Middle School, said teachers met weekly to design a vertically aligned curriculum and "scaffold" learning so students gain confidence as projects grow in scope. Aaron Noak, a Marshall High School social studies teacher, said the coursework will focus on four skills — collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking — and stressed that the program is built around problem solving rather than extra screen time: "The only time you're going to be in front of a computer is when you're designing your final prototype."
Ellie Dunn, a high-school math teacher, described a four-unit sequence that starts with classroom partner projects and culminates in community-facing solutions and pitches. District staff outlined planned equipment and lab features — 3D printers, a desktop CNC router, a laser cutter, vinyl cutters and a potential DTF printer — and said the lab will include finishing stations and safety instruction.
Administrators said the district aims to pursue MIT K–12 Fab Lab certification by the end of the 2026–27 school year and to offer a year-long elective at the high school (10th–12th grades) for 2026–27, initially in two sections. Matt Sebert, the high-school principal, said the course will count as a fine-arts credit initially while the district gathers data to evaluate whether it could meet requirements for math or science credits in the future.
The board approved the curriculum by voice vote. Presenters said the initial equipment estimates include roughly $60,000 per elementary and high-school lab site; DevX consultants will support implementation and teacher training. Staff also described micro-credentials available through MIT that students can earn in areas such as 3D printing and CNC and add to résumés.
Next steps include teacher training this summer, final equipment procurement and rolling the curriculum into the course catalog and schedules for 2026–27. The board approved the curriculum so staff can begin implementation and training.
