First day of school roundup: Several districts return to class for 2023-24
It's a big day for students in the 비바카지노 Viva region!
While some kids have already gone back, several districts, like Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Hardin, Shelby and Spencer counties, just went back to class Wednesday morning.
Here's a little back-to-school roundup:
Bullitt County
Superintendent Jesse Bacon said he was at both Bullitt East and Pleasant Grove, and all the students and staff were excited about starting a new year.
The only issue the district had was regarding buses, as they are still short-staffed. The biggest changes coming this school year are a new student assessment plan that the district plans to implement by testing students three times per year to ensure they're hitting benchmarks.
They'll also implement a new communication system, via the BCPS app. Bacon says they'll be pushing updates through there, and that the community should download it to stay connected. Bacon also boasted the new athletic facilities planning to be open this year.
JCPS
Students in the state's largest district are adjusting to new school times and bus routes this year.
More than 96,000 students are back to class with nine different start times. Nearly 70,000 have a new bus schedule.
Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio says he expects delays for the first week as everyone adjusts to the new norm.
Oldham County
Superintendent Jason Radford said the first day is one of his favorites because of the buzz and excitement.
He said the district is fully staffed with teachers, and there will be one in every classroom, but they are still looking for more bus drivers and support staff (cafeteria workers, custodians, etc.).
Recently, the Oldham County School Board approved two new recruitment and retainment methods, including giving substitutes $30 more per hour, giving full-time employees a $1,500 stipend, and giving part-time employees a $750 stipend on top of their paychecks.
The board also approved the addition of another school resource officer, bringing the number to 11.
Spencer County
Superintendent Willie Foster said the first day jitters are in full swing. Students and teachers are adjusting to the new year and building a sense of community in their classrooms.
Foster says that one thing he is most excited for is that they will be fully staffed by Monday, but they are still working out logistics as their county is growing.
"A lot of people move to this county for the single purpose of they want to have their child in our schools which is an awesome responsibility. It also comes with challenges to keep up with that growth, but it's one we're excited about," Foster said.