The hallways are shining, the lockers are cleaned and the school desks are neatly arranged anticipating the arrival of students.

Following nearly three months of silence, administrators and staff from the Wright City R-II and Warren County R-III school districts are eager to welcome students back from summer break.

“Summer is boring without 1,600 to 1,700 students running around the building,” R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines said.

“It’s quiet without everyone around so it’s nice to get everyone back,” he said. “We’re ready for everyone to get back and ready to get a good start to the school year.”

Students in the R-II District will be the first to hit the halls when classes open Monday, Aug. 16, followed three days later by the Warren County R-III School District.

Private schools and other public districts servicing Warren County students also are set to open the year soon.

Classes begin at Marthasville Elementary and Liberty Christian Academy Tuesday, Aug. 17, at St. Vincent de Paul School Thursday, Aug. 19. Holy Rosary School will begin Tuesday, Aug. 24, and St. Ignatius of Loyola School on Wednesday, Aug. 25.

The expected enrollment in the R-III district is 3,000 students, according to Superintendent Dr. John Long.

“Everything is ready to go and all we need is the kids,” John Long said. “As the day gets closer, it creates almost a hum or a buzz. You can’t help but get excited.”

Summer construction projects are in the finished stage or nearly completed, according to both superintendents. Both districts have improved the driveway surface by paving parking lots at multiple schools.

In addition, the athletic complexes at both high schools have undergone significant improvements. 

The installation of a new artificial turf at Warrenton High School football field is complete, while resurfacing of the track is expected to be finished this week.

The work at Wright City includes upgrading the softball/baseball field and football field along with the installation of an all-weather track. The project will force the softball team to play games this fall at Ruge Park, while the football team will utilize the new turf field at Warrenton High School.

Gaines also noted that air conditioning the remainder of the high school, funded through the voter-approved Prop KIDS no-tax increase, should be completed this week in time for the first day of classes. He cautioned that the improvement might not be noticeable overnight.

“It will take awhile to get the air balanced out (throughout the building),” he said.

State transportation budget cuts are affecting the R-II district. The number of students being transported by bus will decrease, with those living within a mile of the school — and where there are sidewalks for safety — required to walk, ride bikes or rely on private transportation.

Crossing guards have been hired and will assist students crossing the street at the intersection of Westwoods Road and Wildcat Avenue.

“Like the start of every year, I anticipate some slight adjustments as we see who lives where and who rides the buses,” he said.

Gaines noted that the kindergarten class has grown by 62 students compared to last year at this time. He said a sixth kindergarten class was created just last week and a teacher quickly hired, helping reducing the class size to 21 students from the 27 to 30 range.

Another change this year is new start and end times for each school. Gaines noted that essentially each school day has been lengthened by 10 minutes, with the start time moved up five minutes and five  minutes added at the end.

In addition, the schools will dismiss 50 minutes early each Wednesday for staff professional development. The change will eliminate the  monthly early release schedule.

Students at Warrenton High School also will have to adjust to a new time change. Classes there will start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. — five minutes earlier than last year.

Long also is reminding R-III parents that all families are required to fill out a free/reduced lunch application, even if the family doesn’t meet the requirements and would be declining the offer. 

He said the same process was done last year and the number of students enrolled in the program increased by 10 percent.

“Everybody is turning one in so no attention is drawn and there is no stigma,” Long said. “The opportunity to make sure kids are fed two meals a day is important to us.”