By Robert Perea
New Lyon County School District Deputy Superintendent Stacey Griffin-Cooper has been on the job since the end of the last school year in June and was a regular around the district for several weeks before that as she transitioned into her new role. But heading into the last weekend of summer break, her excitement is at its peak.
The Lyon County School District will welcome students back to class this Tuesday, Sept. 2. Griffin-Cooper said the start of a new school year is always exciting, but especially as a newcomer to the district this year.
“Early fall is my favorite time of year with the daily buzz of school buses driving our streets, student traffic to and from school with their backpacks and school supplies, Friday night football games, and the cooler temperatures,” she said.
The district’s new teachers gathered for the district’s New Teacher Academy on Aug. 22 and returning teachers began Aug. 26 in preparation for the new year. Most of the summer construction and maintenance projects around the district have been completed, Open House and Back to School Nights were held this week, and class schedules and other information for students and parents has been posted on Infinite Campus.
“As we prepare to welcome students back to school next week, our entire team has been focused on ensuring a smooth and successful start to the year,” Superintendent Tim Logan said. “Our teachers and staff have been engaged in professional development; our buildings and classrooms are ready, and safety procedures are in place to support both learning and well-being.”
One of the summer projects that isn’t yet completed is the new single-point entry at Fernley High School. Principal Ryan Cross said that will be finished by mid-October.
“Anyone arriving by personal vehicle or getting dropped off will only be able to enter campus by the main office,” Cross said.
Because of the district’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), all district students will be provided with free breakfast and lunch.
Under a new agreement with the district, The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office will provide the school resource officers for all Lyon County schools. Previously, the Yerington Police Department provided the SRO for Yerington schools.
The LCSD Board of Trustees was also scheduled to revisit the district’s cell phone policy at its meeting Aug. 26. Trustees had previously said the policy it enacted last year wasn’t working as intended. Under the policy that took effect at the end of Winter Break last January, cellphones and other electronic devices were required to be turned off during instructional time and kept out of sight unless approval is granted by the site administrator and teacher for specific learning purposes. The Trustees are proposing an addendum to the policy that would prohibit the use of internet-enabled devices on school grounds during the school day other than in circumstances consistent with the district’s policy.
For Logan and Griffin-Cooper, all of those issues take a back seat to the return of students to the classroom.
“We are excited to partner with families and the community to provide our students with the best opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed,” Logan said. “This is always an energizing time of year, and we look forward to a strong start together."
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