After a summer in Topeka that at moments had the first day of school in question across the Sunflower State, Northview Elementary School Principal Dr. Cleion Morton said she was happy to see full classrooms Tuesday morning as Manhattan-Ogden 383 opened its fall semester.
“We are so thankful just to be moving forward and obviously not shutdown or anything like that,” she said.
On June 24, state lawmakers passed a school finance bill that redistributes some funds from wealthier districts to meet a Kansas Supreme Court mandate to make the education funding system fairer to poor districts.
The court threatened to close schools statewide if the legislature failed to act before July 1.
Still, Morton hasn’t let down her guard and the court case that led to such drastic measures over the summer still continues.
“I think there will always be concerns about school funding,” she said. “But I think, at least at Northview, we really work hard to make the best with what we have and work with our families, our students and the community to just keep moving forward.”
Morton said there’s always a special kind of enthusiasm for the first day of school for all involved.
“(Teachers) come back refreshed and ready for a new class, new adventures,” Morton said. “I think kids come back after summer ready to get back into a routine. Parents are obviously anxious to get back into a routine.
“So yeah, lots of energy and lots of excitement.”
Third grader Mason Willard said he was happy to back and that there have been classes he looked forward to over the summer.
“Science… and doing all the fun experiments,” he said.
Oh, and another thing.
“Recess,” Willard said. “Playing kickball with all my friends.”
At the collegiate level, K-State dorms will officially open for occupancy at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The first day of classes for KSU will be on Aug. 22.
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