By Angel Perkins News-Mirror Editor
Some changes are in store in the upcoming school year which begins for students, Wednesday Aug. 13. At the elementary level, a reminder is included in the student-parent handbook that says that there is an alternate schedule for kindergarten classes when there is a two-our delay or an early release day.
Another reminder involving weather conditions stresses that parents should make alternate, advance arrangements for the children in case of emergency closings or delays. Too often, children had been left without a safe way to get home or get into their homes because further plans weren't made.

With closings, all school personnel leaves after the children do and if the conditions are that in which a danger is presented to students that stay, it only progresses further for the teacher or school administrator that has to stay with a child whose parent didn't make other prior arrangements. Another problem noted last year with school staff is the arrival of children, not there for breakfast, before 8 a.m.
It had been noted that there is no adult supervision for children that are not purchasing a lunch at 7:45 a.m. and no supervision at all for any student beforehand. Unattended students were found to be acting inappropriately or to be located in areas they were not to be so the handbook stresses the time of arrival.
This year cameras were an item added to the list of those things not to be used in classrooms or at recess which included pets, cell phones, toys or any items not required for the school day unless previous arrangements are made and allowed by individual students' teachers. Similarly, those electronic items used on the bus are to be put into the students’ book bag or backpack before getting off the bus when arriving at school.
Dress code changes added this year were a result of school administrators' concerns for student safety and included inappropriate footwear, which was defined as anything except "enclosed shoes or shoes with back straps." Heelies and other wheeled shoes are now also considered unacceptable footwear for school.
Another revision that began last year but was officially added to the handbook for the 2008-09 year involve personal background checks. The policy states that parents and other adult patrons must complete a form for a reference check and must meet approval before they can serve as a volunteer or attend as a chaperone or driver for any school trips.
At the junior-senior high school level, items added to the list of those prohibited for use while at school were pagers and cell phones. Other unapproved items to being included weapons and radios, headphones, laser pointers, tape recorders, video games and any other telecommunication device not related to school purpose or serving a required educational function.
Also noted in that category in regard to backpacks, one created as a safety measure, was the rule that students are not to bring backpacks to their classes or into the lunchroom area. The convenience items are only to be brought to and from the school (before and after) and the administration is given full authority to determine what defines a backpack or book bag.
It was also noted that food and drink are not allowed outside the cafeteria area unless the student is given prior approval from a school administrator. These inclusions, though added to quite a number of things for students to remember, are guidelines that make the day-to-day operations smoother and safer for everyone involved with Triton schools.