Let’s go-o-ooo …
Back to school.
Several members of WVU’s football Mountaineers huddled at school buildings across Monongalia County on Tuesday morning.
They were there to greet students reporting for the first day of the new school year.
Eddie Campbell Jr., Mon’s superintendent of schools, said the dynamic was akin to taking a kickoff for a touchdown after fielding it from deep in your own end zone.
“The players always do a great job interacting with our kids,” said the superintendent, who accompanied players to Cheat Lake Elementary for morning bell.
“I love watching the little ones in the presence of all these giant football players,” he said. “It’s fun to see.”
Unless you’re a student not keen on going back to school, Campbell said, it was also a fun, smooth morning to launch the 2024-25 academic year.
“I think everyone was excited to be back,” he said.
Some 11,500 students did just that Tuesday – save for the sixth-graders of Suncrest Middle, who got an extra day.
Their first day is Wednesday, because they have to take up temporary lodging at the WVU Innovation Corporation Building, due to a water leak that damaged their classrooms over the summer.
Which was the only kind of break needing attention Tuesday, said Susan Haslebacher, the district’s director of student health services.
No major injuries on playgrounds at recess, she said.
“It was lovely to see everyone back,” the longtime nurse said. “There may been some bumps and bruises, but nothing that required our attention.”
From breaks to brakes, Transportation Director Tony Harris said the same.
Drivers successfully negotiated all 111 routes, he said.
With no child left behind.
“We also had all three of our electric buses on the road today,” he said.
For now, his department is also charged with around seven substitute drivers standing ready.
“That’s a luxury for us.”
