Greencastle students back in class after first day eclipsed – Herald-Mail Media

GREENCASTLE, Pa. Unlike the solar eclipse that delayed the start of the 2017-18 school year by a day, Greencastle-Antrim students reported to classes Tuesday with nothing unusual to report from the district's new superintendent.

Probably not unlike many of the students, Kendra Trail said she was feeling anticipation and excitement to begin her first year overseeing the district.

Overall, the day went extraordinarily well, said Trail, who attended the elementary and middle school "welcome-back" assemblies.

We expected transportation to run later in getting students home; however, that routinely happens on the first day and even first week, she said.

Trail had moved the planned opening day of school back a day because of a concern for childrens' safety during the solar eclipse.

A lot of rehabilitation work had been performed in the primary and elementary schools during the summer, including new heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems.

All classrooms in the two schools also have had new carpeting installed, but Trail said carpet work still needed to be completed in the schools' hallways.

The hallway-carpet installation is being done during nights and weekends.

Earlier this month, Trail announced a change in the school district's traditional open campus, closing the campus for public use during school hours.

My first priority is to strengthen the safety of students and staff," she said. "The first step was taken to have a 'closed campus' during the hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., which took effect (Tuesday). ... I am continuing to assess the safety issue.

Trail estimated last week that enrollment was up by 30 students from last year, but she wasn't ready Tuesday to tally the total number of students.

We still have students enrolling," she said. "On the third day of school, we will assess that information.

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Greencastle students back in class after first day eclipsed - Herald-Mail Media