Published: August 13, 2009 08:49 pm      

Somerset students are back in class

Somerset — Summer break is now a thing of the past for students of all major local school systems. Science Hill and Pulaski County youngsters are more than a week into the 2009-2010 school year, while students at Somerset Christian School and those in the Somerset Independent school system returned to classes this week, on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Somerset Superintendent Dr. Teresa Wallace and public relations director Cloyd Bumgardner agree that the first day of school for Somerset Independent students was a smooth one.

“It was uneventful,” Bumgardner noted. And that’s just what school officials were hoping for.

Students at Hopkins Elementary — 549 of them — were welcomed to school by returning principal Fonda Crawford.

The 406 students at Meece Middle School will be getting to know their new principal, David Horseman, while visitors to the school will be getting used to a new check-in procedure. Visitors must now speak to a secretary at a window in the lobby before entering the school.

Somerset High School’s 471 students also have a new principal following the retirement of long-time Somerset employee Jeff Perkins. Mark Murray moved into the principal’s office July 1.

“The buses operated smoothly, our teachers are hard at work, and our principals are busy learning the students’ and parents’ names,” Bumgardner said.