South Point Schools opened yesterday with several new staff members and high expectations for the future as new schools are being built.

Sometime in October, the high school and the middle school will be moved to the new school, and then Burlington Elementary School will move into the old high school temporarily while a new school is being built in Burlington.

When the middle school moves, it will be torn down and a new South Point Elementary will be built at that location.

The board offices will move into the old high school along with Burlington Elementary.

“This year we are looking forward to moving to the new high school,” said John Maynard, the new South Point High School principal. “The staff, students, parents and community are energized by the many possibilities the new facilities offer.”

Each room in the new building will be equipped with interactive “Smart Boards” that will bring the old “white board” into the digital age, he said.

The site will be entirely wireless and will offer the students and teachers the ability to move around campus for outdoor classes.

“Our students will benefit from the skills that our teachers have acquired in summer workshops and in-services,” Maynard said. “Among these skills is the ability to prepare students for the 21st century. Our staff has taken to heart the suggestions in the Achieve Report that can be found on the (Ohio Department of Education) Web site.”

Besides Maynard, several new staff members have started at the school including two that will be working in the middle school and the high school, Brent Hunt, band director, and Michelle West, nurse.

Other new staff members at the high school are Kent Stewart, social studies; Robert Halcombe; English; Alex Hunt, mathematics; Ben Musick, English; and Doug Shilot, football coach.

The middle school has several new staff members including Shannon Hunt, seventh-grade mathematics; Douglas Shilot, intervention specialist; and Becky Walker, aide.

“Our objective is for all students to meet or exceed achievement goals,” said Principal Les York. “We have implemented an advisory class period to work on other curriculum needs.”

An after-school program, HELP, provides extra help with homework or any academic assistance students may need. Also, the eighth-grade TAG students will be offered high school speech for a credit.

On Thursday, from 6 to 6:30 p.m., the middle school will have an open house and from 6:30 to 7 p.m., a meet-the-teachers session and an open discussion with the administration are scheduled.

Athletic Department coaches will have an in-service meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the middle school library for all student athletes that will be participating in middle school sports for the 2007-08 season. This is a mandatory meeting for parents or guardians and the student.

“We’re just trying to do the things we’ve always done and trying to do them better,” said Chris Mathis, South Point Elementary School principal. “We’re trying to meet the individual needs of the students.”

Amber Dillon is the new kindergarten teacher at the school.

Burlington Elementary School had its open house on Thursday.

“We had a really good turnout,” said Henrietta Kitchen, Burlington Elementary principal. “I have high expectations and we just want this to be a successful year for the kids. Of course we’re always striving to meet the state standards and goals.”

Alicia Dickerson and Lisa Toppins are both new intervention specialists at Burlington.

Kindergartners started today at both South Point and Burlington Elementary schools.