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Few bumps reported during first day of school in Cabell County
Reading teacher Brenda Bates briefs her eighth-grade students on homework assignments Wednesday, August 26, 2009, as they attend their first day of classes at Milton Middle School.
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MILTON -- It was the first day back for students across the state of West Virginia, but it just didn't have that feel at Milton Middle School.
That's because the newest Cabell County school to open its doors started with a staggered schedule. Only eighth-graders reported Wednesday, with seventh- and sixth-grade students reporting on Thursday and Friday, respectively. The entire student body returns Monday.
"It's a lot quieter than a normal (first) day," said principal Dan Gleason. "(Monday) will be a typical first day."
Gleason said bringing students back one day and one grade at a time allows the staff and teachers to work out the bugs and get used to the new facility.
"We want students to get familiar with the surroundings," said the fifth-year principal. "They're impressed. You can see the excitement in their eyes."
Gleason said most teachers this week are handing out syllabi and school-wide information packets, while also letting students get used to where their classes are.
Eighth-grade math teacher Kyle Berry talked to his students about what to expect this year, including working in teams with people you may not like.
His seventh-grade counterpart, Curtis Mann, plans to go over similar items Thursday with his students.
"I think they'll come with a positive attitude," Mann said. "They get to start fresh, start anew."
He also said the new technology every classroom has -- multiple computer stations, projectors and a SMART Board -- will really make a difference this year.
The new school marks the third to open in the past two years. Last school year, the new Martha Elementary welcomed students back, while Barboursville Middle School students transitioned into the new, neighboring school in January.
"It's definitely been a wonderful experience doing that and being close on time," said Superintendent William Smith, who noted that the new campus for Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle likely won't be ready for students until the next school year.
"It's a monumental achievement of this board and staff," Smith continued. "We need to take time to celebrate it a little bit."
While it seemed like a good start at Milton Middle, officials were scrambling Tuesday when the Internet went down. It was fixed before students arrived Wednesday.
At Davis Creek Elementary, the air conditioning quit working. Students will take Thursday off while maintenance replaces a broken compressor. Teachers and staff are to report on time.
Communications Director Jedd Flowers said a tractor-trailer fire on Interstate 64 Wednesday morning caused some students to arrive late. Other than that, as first days go, it couldn't have been better.
"(Smith) said we could have taken the day off, it was so smooth," Flowers said.
In Cabell County, more than 100 buses travel 7,000 miles each day, transporting about 80 percent of the 12,000-plus students attending the 28 elementary, middle and high schools. Assistant Superintendent Mike O'Dell said new GPS systems were installed in all the buses for safety and efficiency. The $100,000 cost came out of the transportation budget, he said.
There also will be more Pre-K classrooms available, with the increase from two classes of 14 children at Milton Baptist Church to four classes of 18 children. Pre-K starts Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The addition of those students also will help Cabell County's enrollment data. Flowers said last year's second-month enrollment figure was 12,522, up from the year before.
"We were down for many years, then three or four years ago, it started to stabilize," Flowers said. "Last few years, we started seeing small increases, but that's with the addition of Pre-K. So we're probably losing older kids. Pre-K has helped stabilize us."
