Getting schooled

Be patient.

That advice comes from school Superintendent Harriet Wolfe as about 4,500 students attend the first day of school in Sedalia.

Traffic is “always worse on the first day of school,” Wolfe said. “Many, many parents want to hand deliver their student the first day. It’s looking like we are having a larger-than-predicted kindergarten enrollment, and those parents almost all want to hand deliver their students. That means congested traffic, waits and long lines at all the buildings.”

With that, Wolfe advised, “Be a courteous, friendly driver. Remember everyone is trying to accomplish the same goal.”

The Missouri Highway Patrol also has issued reminders to drivers to expect a change in traffic patterns in early morning and mid-afternoon, especially around the schools and crosswalks. Drivers should be cautious, and leave extra time for their commutes, troopers said.

Once they arrive in schools, parents and teachers will find some new administrators in place, and others who have changed jobs.

Horace Mann Elementary School has Bill Betteridge as its new principal. He replaces Julie Dill, who moved to the central office as a director of special education.

At the middle school, Sara Pannier is the new principal. Chris Pyle and Todd Whitney will be the new assistant principals.

At the high school, Martin White is the new principal; Kristee Lorenz, Steve Triplett and Todd Fraley will serve as assistant principals.

Students will find few physical changes in their buildings, but elementary students will find a new Behavior Intervention Support Team — used before at Skyline and Heber Hunt — adopted districtwide.

“Now, when students move from one building to another, they should experience the same rules and regulations ... in every building,” Wolfe said.

By the end of the day, students should have a backpack full of information to cart home for parents to peruse, and to sign.

“There usually is quite a bit of enrollment information and handbook forms to be signed. All sorts of informative pieces,” Wolfe said. “Parents should expect to receive a big packet. If they don’t receive they should they should ask their child.”