By Janine DavisRecord Staff WriterTeachers and staff in the Warren County R-III School District have been busy this week with final preparations in what they say is the calm before the storm.The 2014-2015 school year opens this Thursday.“We’re very excited about the year and continuing the positive things we’ve started with teachers and students,” said R-III Superintendent Jim Chandler, who begins his second year as head of the district.“We’re seeing some very positive trends with kids, and everyone’s enthused about building on that momentum.”One of the most significant developments, Chandler noted, is a reboot of the district’s professional learning communities in which teachers have dedicated time to share expertise and collaborate with each other to improve teaching skills and student learning.This time normally will coincide with two-hour early release the first Wednesday of each month.“They’ll have dedicated time to look at and discuss student performance data to drive future instruction,” said Chandler.This year also marks the district’s full school-wide rollout of Positive Behavior Support (PBS), a formalized program that assists in creating a more effective learning environment. With PBS, teachers learn proactive techniques to help students make better behavior choices that lead to fewer interruptions in instruction time, lower discipline referrals and out-of-school suspensions.Chandler noted that all schools have been holding open houses for students and parents, and that the high school’s freshman orientation has gone well.In addition to preparing for academics, the district also has worked over the summer on getting its facilities ready for a new school year.Chandler said that paving work has been completed around several buildings including Warrior Ridge Elementary, the middle school and high school, as well as the central office. In addition, a portion of the middle school roof that was leaking has been repaired. Also at Black Hawk Middle School, a new sanitary line has been installed for the girls’ restroom, and work was done to bring a portion of the school’s drainage system up to code.Continuung positive trends focus for R-III