A misty morning didn’t dampen expectations on the first day of school for Richmond County middle, high and K-8 schools Tuesday.
“So far, it’s gone well,” Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw said, after greeting students when the first bell rang at Hephzibah High School.
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“The principal, the staff, they’ve been out here all morning, ensuring that the students arrive safely and know exactly where to report first period. So far, so good,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw said he is looking forward to an exciting new school year.
“The students have come in. They appear to be ready, prepared and excited about the upcoming school year,” he said.
The system’s new policy for student cell phones – they, as well as items such as Apple Watches and AirPods, must be turned off and out of sight from the first bell to the last – will be a welcome limit on distractions in the classroom, he said.
“Teaching and learning is going to be our No. 1 priority. We want our students to focus directly on the teachers,” Bradshaw said. “We’re looking forward to cooperation, so we can actually increase test scores.”
The system made several grade-level improvements last school year, according to data from the Georgia Department of Education. They improved in end-of-course testing in biology and U.S. History, and eighth-graders improved in science and social studies. Grades 3-8 improved in English Language Arts.
Students intended to attend Belair Middle School began school Tuesday at the former Langford Middle School, after delays kept the Jimmie Dyess Parkway school from opening on time. The targeted move-in date is over Fall Break.
The system has about 28,000 students attending 54 schools after closing Spirit Creek and A. Brian Merry elementary schools at the end of last year. Pupils in the system’s 27 elementary schools began school Monday.
