The first day of school proved widely successful for public schools throughout Marion County.

As expected, normal first-day challenges – late buses due to higher-than-expected rider counts, unregistered students, and new residents unfamiliar with school attendance areas – took time out of the first instructional day of the 2010-2011 school year.  These issues are normally resolved within the first few days of class.

Today, 39,315 students showed up for their first day eager to begin a new year after their summer vacation.  This number is 425 students fewer than last year’s first-day count and more than six percent under the projected peak enrollment of 42,024.  As usual, the daily attendance figure will climb over the next two months for the official October state count. 

While most students made it to class without incident, some buses were delayed because of normal first-day procedures including longer-than-anticipated pick-up times at new bus stops and drivers placing colored armbands on students for proper identification.  Transportation issues are a common and expected occurrence during the first two weeks of class.  Once drivers become aware of students and students learn their bus route numbers, stop times and locations, these problems dissipate. 

As of 4:30PM, the district’s transportation hotline – 352.671.7050 – fielded 1,705 calls on the first day alone, offering immediate help to parents with bus questions and concerns.  This number operates 7AM-6PM every school day.  As well, the district’s Technology Help Desk fielded more than 373 calls from classroom teachers and other school technology users.

Despite public education efforts, school administrators sent 488 seventh graders out-of-class because they did not have proof of their state-required immunizations.  Last year, over 550 seventh graders found themselves in the same position.  Even with these immunization concerns and transportation issues, district-wide, today ran remarkably smooth for a first-day opening.