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First day of school for Jackson County

Posted at 12:03 PM, Aug 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-24 12:03:01-04

From Jackson Public to Northwest Community Schools, it's the first day of class for Jackson County's 13 public schools.

"There's a lot of excitement here and this is throughout Jackson County," says Northwest Superintendent Geoff Bontrager.

At Northwest, it is the first full year for students and staff at the district's new facilities. It's already been a big help for the high school band.

"We used to have to travel 20 minutes to perform in an auditorium and now we have our own facility, so we don't need to move," says Band Director Bryan Mangiavellano, "and waste time doing that."

That's not the only new thing in Mountie Nation this year, like all the other public districts in Jackson County, they are on an all new schedule, starting before Labor Day and wrapping up on June 8th.

Teachers and counselors tell me it has been an adjustment.

"When you see everybody else you know on vacation still and excited about their summer and we are starting a little early, but come June we will be glad," says Doug Blume, a middle school counselor.

This year, the high school is unveiling a series of career programs, designed to get kids prepared for life after high school.

"We have a new program with AIS out of Lansing," says high school principal Scott Buchler, "(a) heavy equipment program where kids are coming in learning how to use the heavy equipment...and driving those machines."

One program is even getting kids ready for a future at Consumers Energy.

"That is a class that just starts getting them introduced to what they will need to do to be a part of the Consumers program," says Buchler.

There's plenty of buzz and excitement across Jackson County about the earlier start to the school year.