Tuesday, August 27, 2013
By Ed Runyan
NILES
Niles schools opened two new buildings Monday for the first day of school and worried that all of that change, coupled with a major road project, could wreak havoc.
But the information the school district sent out last week to update parents on the proper streets to use seemed to help, and the process went smoothly, officials said.
“So far, it’s been a great morning,” Niles Superintendent Frank Danso said after students had arrived at all four of the district’s buildings.
Officials said there were small traffic tie-ups on Main Street for motorists turning onto East Margaret Street and Federal Street and Dragon Drive near the high school.
“Everybody was cordial about it,” one Niles police officer said of the slight backups near the Niles Intermediate School. Advising motorists to exit onto North Road helped alleviate the congestion on Margaret and St. John streets, he said.
Niles opened two new schools on its first day — the Niles Intermediate School at the site of the former Bonham Elementary and Niles Primary School on Frederick Street. The new high school opened part way through last school year.
Also new this year: Most Trumbull County public school districts started school on the same day Monday, with Newton Falls starting today and Weathersfield set to start Sept. 9 because of con-struction, said Dr. Robert Marino, assistant superintendent of the Trumbull County Educational Service Center.
The Trumbull County Superintendent’s Association has been trying for several years to get all public schools in the county to start the same day.
In the past, school began as early as Aug. 21 and as late as Aug. 28 or Sept. 6 depending on the district.
Having the same starting date is beneficial for the Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Champion, which receives students from all of the districts.
It also saves money for the ESC because the ESC provides transportation for special-education programs that sometimes involve transportation on the same bus for students from different school districts.
Having the same start date also is less confusing, he said, adding that the superintendents deserve credit for working together and with their school boards to standardize the start date.