This week, school bells will ring for students in Lawrence County. When students and teachers return to the classroom they are likely to find things have changed a bit from when they left this spring.

New faces, new places

"We probably have more changes than any district in the state," Ironton City Schools' new Superintendent Dean Nance said after Tuesday evening's school board meeting. He may be right.

Starting with Nance himself, the district has some new faces, and some familiar faces in new places.

Nance, formerly the principal of Ironton High School, was named the district's new superintendent in late May, replacing veteran educator Stephen Kingery, who retired.

Joe Rowe, health teacher at

Dawson-Bryant High School, stepped in to take Nance's place at the high school.

Kim Imes will be principal at Ironton Middle School, replacing Bill Dressel, who has taken the position of federal programs and curriculum coordinator at the central office.

One new class offering that Ironton schools will share this year with Dawson-Bryant and the Collins Career Center is the health tech prep class.

Housed at a renovated building adjacent to the IHS football stadium, the class will offer students a jump start on a career in the health care industry.

The renovation work on the health tech prep building was paid for by a grant through the Ohio Department of Education. Collins Career Center will provide the instructor for the class.

Nance said those Dawson-Bryant students who have not yet signed up for the class may still do so by calling IHS guidance counselor J.C. Medinger at 532-3911, extension 13.

Ironton teachers report for work Tuesday; the first day for students is Wednesday.

Ironton Catholic schools spruce up

St. Joseph High School students will find a few changes to their curriculum this school year.

"We redid some classes to bring the curriculum into better alignment with requirements for the Ohio Graduation Test," Principal Jim Mains said. "We'll be offering introduction to chemistry and introduction to physics in the ninth grade this year.

The physics class used to be offered at the junior level, and the chemistry class last year was taught at the junior and senior levels.

Also this year we will be teaching world history in the ninth grade. It has been taught in the sophomore year."

St. Joseph and St. Lawrence teachers will report for work Tuesday; the first day for students is Thursday.

A new day care center, pre-school on the hill

This fall, the new Rock Hill Child Development Center will open its doors for operation. Housed in the former Rock Hill Elementary No. 3 building, the newly renovated center will house a day care and preschool.

Personnel were hired to staff the facility earlier this month. RWS Construction is the general contractor for the $777,000 contact.

The old elementary school became available last year when a new consolidated facility was built, replacing the four old ones.

Symmes Valley schools continue renovations

When Symmes Valley students return to school Wednesday, they will see a continuation of renovation work that began last Spring. The school district today will officially dedicate the new addition to the school. The first day for teachers is Monday. The first day for students is Wednesday.

Chesapeake: Building up and plugging in

In September, the Chesapeake school district plans to begin construction on the new elementary school building, Superintendent Samuel E. Hall said. Ground was broken on the new school in May.

Hall said he believes that the building should be completed in 18 months once the construction begins.

High school students, primarily in grades 10-12, will be able to take a video production class via satellite thanks to a partnership with Collins Career Center.

The first day for teachers is Monday and the first day for students is Wednesday.

Board of MR/DD gets appearance upgrade

"We're always excited about school starting," Superintendent Paul Mollet said. "In May, we never think the school year is going to end. Then, by the end of summer, we're excited to have all the kids back."

Through cooperation with the board and the parent/teacher Organization, several renovations have been done to the Open Door School and several are still in progress, Mollet said.

Sidewalks have been replaced and the school also has a brand new large sign at the front of the building at the corner of Fourth and Lorain streets.

Primary classrooms in the building's basement have been painted as well as the gymnasium.

The sidewalk on the Fifth Street side of the building has not been replaced yet, Mollet said, because a new entrance and parking lot expansion will be on that side.

Fencing will be added to the back lot because of concerns for the children's safety.

Several Lowe's stores are doing the fencing project as a charitable contribution, Mollet said.

The first day for teachers was Friday. The first day for students is Monday.

South Point: Some old faces doing new jobs

When South Point Elementary Principal Nancy Shuff retired earlier this year, Assistant Principal Chris Mathes was chosen to fill her position.

"I'm definitely looking forward to this," Mathes said. "It's a bit overwhelming, but I knew it would be. I'm more excited than I ever have been about school starting."

Henrietta Kitchen, a 14-year teaching veteran will be the new assistant principal.

The first day for teachers is Monday, where they will have two in-service days. The first day for students is Wednesday.

The Ironton Tribune attempted to contact officials from the Fairland and Dawson-Bryant school districts but were unsuccessful.

The first day for Dawson-Bryant teachers is Tuesday and the first day for students is Wednesday.

The district will have a dinner for all employees 6 p.m. Monday night at the high school.