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First day of school starts smoothly

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
By Sadie Fowler

Michelle Arvieta walks Elysse Troy into Shelbyville's brand new Learning Way Elementary School on Monday.
(T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

The first day of school always brings with it a refreshing sense of renewal. It's a chance to get better grades, get more involved and meet new friends.

Buses covered the county early Monday picking up thousands of kids for the first day of school. For many of those children that meant literally stepping foot into a brand new school.

"Today was your typical first day of school," said School Superintendent Ed Gray on Monday. "We knew it would be hectic."

Gray said the county made it through the first day. Any problems that came about Monday will be addressed starting today, Gray said.

Learning Way Elementary and Community High School were completed over the summer and the new Thomas Magnet School, located in the former Thomas Intermediate School building, opened its doors as well.

At Learning Way, parents dropping children off had to contend with parents dropping children off at nearby Harris Middle School and Central High School, but plenty of help on the ground ensured the traffic flowed smoothly.

"Today went very well," said Learning Way principal Karen Scoggins. "We had a few students that got off on the wrong stop. Traffic was a little rough coming in, but besides that I think everything went smoothly during pick up."

Scoggins said more parents, especially those with children starting kindergarten, drive their children to school for the first few days until they're comfortable getting on and off the bus. This contributed to the heavy traffic Monday, she said.

"The little ones (who rode the buses) did great," she said. Each child had a bus sticker that matched up with the bus they were supposed to get on to help things run smoothly.

Monday served as a half-day for students attending the 13 schools throughout the county. Full days for students in Bedford County began today.

Last year, 7,650 attended Bedford County schools. Gray said he expected growth this year of approximately 100 to 150 students.

Community High School principal Robert Ralston took advantage of the abbreviated first school day to build a sense of community with his students in their new high school building.

He introduced the students to their new home room assignments and led the seniors into the auditorium to set the theme for their final year.

"Your senior year will slip by quickly," Ralston told the seniors as he urged them to understand the special standing they have with the rest of the students at Community.

And Ralston admonished the seniors to do their best so that every one of them would be graduating in purple cap and gown attire next April.

Comments

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The planners for Learning Way really messed up. Trying to get cars into Learning Way and Harris was a mess. Hopefully they will get the kinks out, but it was starting to get ugly. The teachers made sure the kids were safe, but the teachers themselves were in danger of getting hit by cars as people tried to jump lanes and move over because they realized they were in the wrong lane and couldn't turn into the school they needed. Parents with children at both schools really had a problem.

-- Posted by sameoldstory on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 9:22 AM

It has been that way at Cascade for YEARS and NOTHING has been done to fix the problem, we have never had anyone directing traffic like most other schools so don't hold your breath on the problem at Harris and the new school getting any better, oh but wait those are city schools and we are in the county so it will probably get taken care on your end :)

-- Posted by 8nabas30 on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 12:16 PM

You must not have checked at East side.... smoothly HA

-- Posted by HERESAY on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 2:25 PM

It ran smoothly? Really...find out how many kids missed yesterday's buses on pickup! IF I had not gone up to a 6th meeting Sunday, I would have had NO IDEA that buses were going to run 30 minutes early, so that they could get up to school to leave for the new magnet school by 715am. That means that my child now gets on the bus at 630am, to arrive school by about 700am TO SIT until 755am! Really?! I wonder how many kids missed the bus because they were not prepared? So now I guess I'll be one of many new parents dropping their kids off at school so they're not sitting there for 45-55 minutes before school starts. Unfreakin believable!

And traffic at Cascade (which is bad enough) was probably made worse by more parents (me included) dropping off because of the early start of the buses! Nightmare!

-- Posted by neighborhood mom on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 4:40 PM

Ran smoothly, what school was you getting this from because I didn't know that buses were running earlier and Monday morning I went to work and my child called me to let me know that bus went by at 6:05 about 30 to 40 minutes earlier. Not such a good start to know that my kids get on the bus 1 hr 40 minutes before class starts and that was the first day it didnt get any better on Tuesday. There was nothing smooth in the pick up lines or the buses at Unionville.

-- Posted by alwaysamomof3 on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 7:40 PM

At Cascade High School it would be much better to allow the middle school students to be picked up in front of the school instead of the area where all of the high school kids are going out and leaving in their cars. Traffic would flow more smoothly also. This would also keep the younger kids from mixing with the teenagers unsupervised in the afternoons when school is dismissed. I was led to believe that middle school was kept in the gym separate while waiting for their parents. Apparently, this is not th case !

-- Posted by sunflower36 on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 8:36 PM

Pickup is a NIGHTMARE at Thomas, and will continue to be if the current system remains. Only 4th and 5th grade students are allowed to go across the crosswalk to meet their parents who are waiting on the other side. K-3 must pull through ONE lane single file and then have their child's name announced and then their child is allowed to come from inside the building and get into the car. By the time I get to Harris, my older child is one of the last ones waiting. Something needs to be done about this. Mr. Harwell, PLEASE. If I am standing on the other side of the crosswalk, that means I accept responsibility for my child to be allowed to cross over to meet me.

-- Posted by mandalin on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 9:26 PM

Being a driver in the city school system, I will say that there were a few rough spots, but for the most part things went very well with the buses. The Learning Way/Harris car rider situation will get better. The 2 lanes in learning way will make a big difference when they work out the kinks. I just want to encourage the "city" folks to be patient, in a week or 2 this will be just a thing. Issues always arise at this time of year. As far as buses running earlier, the drivers are as thrilled as the parents, but the only alternate solution would be to have all the parents of the magnet school take their own children. There are students from all over the county going to Thomas, they have a right to public transportation. As inconvenient as it may seem for some, I believe that the sacrifice of un- selfishness had to be made. I believe that is "Loving thy neighbors". For just a moment- getting our eyes off of our own deal to help another. Unity.

-- Posted by raginginferno on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 9:57 PM

Go Liberty!! Sounds like we have no crazy parents!!

-- Posted by eagleeyes on Tue, Aug 11, 2009, at 11:09 PM

I was mad all over again when I read this article. My sons bus was 30 mins early this morning. My husband had just left for work when the bus pulled up. So I had no way of getting him to school. Thank goodness my neighbor saw what had happen. She volunteered to take my son to school. But I felt bad for her because she was stuck in that traffic for almost 40 minutes. Hope this is fixed soon!!!

-- Posted by workinghardformine on Wed, Aug 12, 2009, at 1:52 AM

Gee,who said every thing went smoothly??

Because they must not have been looking.Schools were over at 10 am.when students were still standing in the halls, waiting for magnet and high school buses to arrive at school to take students home.

I feel we need to change some rules when it comes to Bedford of Education.I feel if you don't have school age children attending schools. You should not have a seat on the Board or hold the job of Super.Of Education.Because those who don't have children attending, loose content of those who have to put up with all the dictation of exspence of sending children to school.And being hounded to have their children to sell junk or give money to support the schools.Where does our tax dollars go?

Alot of money spent on class room supplies, And not just one of some thing but several.And then have a class room fee for each child. And dress codes are ok if you make the whole school do it. And further more, make the teachers and staff use the same dress code, After all they are the educaters and role models for our children.

And now being a two hour commute to school, before it starts.

Lets see if the issues at hand get taken care of. And I hope its not by the same person who stated " Everything went smoothly."

-- Posted by Wheelbillie on Fri, Aug 14, 2009, at 7:11 PM