Warren County R-III Superintendent Dr. Thomas Muzzey said the 2012-13 school year got off to a smooth start despite many changes made to improve the district this year. Although final enrollment numbers are not available until after Labor Day, Dr. Muzzey estimates that there were approximately 3,045 students in grades K-12 this year. Class Restructuring For Grades K-5 Elementary students saw the biggest change as grades K-5 were restructured. Each of the three  elementary buildings now has a K-5 classroom instead of grades meeting in one central building. This change was mandated by the federal government when the third-grade classes failed to meet No Child Left Behind Act standards for four years or more. The school district would have lost $585,000 in federal funding if it had not met the mandate. This change is the first time in the history of the school that boundaries have been changed, Dr. Muzzey said. The overhaul required cooperation from many different parts of the school system. Bus routes were changed and every bus route had a different pickup and drop-off time. Maintenance staff had the task of retrofitting bathrooms and water fountains in each building to meet the needs of smaller students. Maintenance staff also had to move furniture for the classrooms to different buildings, and more than 50 teachers were juggled throughout the three buildings. Dr. Muzzey commended all for the cooperation, and gave a special tip of the hat to the maintenance staff for their efforts during summer break. The first day went off with only a few minor issues, he said. More Technology In Middle School School authorities also are embracing technology in the classroom even more this year. The entire middle school is now set up for wireless Internet connection and students are allowed to bring wireless devices such as cellphones to school. An information specialist is available in each room as the school makes a technology-friendly transition. The school has established a Facebook page and a Twitter account that allows for immediate communication to followers. Parents are encouraged to give their input on how to improve the school system on the Facebook page, Dr. Muzzey said. “We like to give parents a voice,” said Dr. Gregg Kling-insmith, assistant superintendent. Social networking sites are blocked to students while in the school building, but students are encouraged to use web pages for learning activities, said Dr. Kling-insmith. “We felt like everything else is technology based so it didn’t make sense to  have them ‘power down’ during school hours,” said Dr. Muzzey. Other schools are embracing similar policies. “We were cutting edge a year ago. We’re very excited about that,” said Dr. Muzzey. School officials hope to have the high school ready for wireless Internet access by the end of the semester. Electronic Database As more residents move to wireless telephone service and have non-published numbers, school staff is attempting to obtain telephone numbers for parents in an effort to communicate. Additionally, email addresses are being gathered and district personnel are striving to have 100 percent of the addresses for parents and guardians, Dr. Muzzey said. Parent Nights Parents also will be encouraged to use a new technology-based method to learn the Singapore Math method, a teaching method based on the primary textbooks and syllabus from the national curriculum of Singapore which relies heavily on problem solving and model drawing. Parent Nights are being planned to explain the new method, and some learning exercises will be videotaped and available for viewing on the school’s website so that parents can follow along in an effort to help their students with assignments. “We want to help parents at home,” Dr. Klinginsmith said. Teachers have undergone a weeklong training on the method from a world-renowned trainer so that the method will be consistent from classroom to classroom. Project Lead the Way In the high school, students who excel in science and math have the opportunity to participate in the national “Project Lead the Way” effort for the first time. It takes three years for the program to be certified and focuses on preparing students who excel in skills needed for biomedical and engineering careers such as nurses, doctors, veterinarians and engineers. There are 75 participants this year. Free Preschool Another new program is a free preschool class in each of the three elementary schools. Morning and afternoon sessions are available. Students are provided with breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day, in addition to help learning prerequisite skills for kindergarten. The program was begun in response to data showing that only one-third of local students had the necessary skills to begin kindergarten. The preschool program offers students learning and social opportunities and is offered in cooperation with the Youth in Need program. The school district pays the salary for a teacher and an assistant in each class of 18 students. Although the preschool program is currently full, there are still openings in the school’s early childhood program which is now housed in a district-owned building near the Warrenton movie theater off of Veterans Memorial Parkway. Services previously were provided by an outside vendor. Character Counts Students in the middle school participated in character building exercises during the first week of school. The Character Counts program offers students an opportunity to participate in fun eight-minute long learning stations in small groups to learn about the “Warrior Way” of school rules, policies, teamwork and how to live as good citizens with healthy habits. Drug Testing Policy High school students who are involved in extracurricular activities or who drive to school and park on district property are now subject to random drug testing as a result of a new policy approved by the school board last year. Dr. Muzzey said testing has not yet begun.