CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — As students soak in their last few days of summer vacation, teachers and other staff are already reporting back to school.
Wednesday was the first day for employees in Harrison County Schools, and Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin said a lot of work is done each year to prepare for students.
“This is a busy time,” Manchin said. “This is a really busy time, not only obviously for Harrison County but all around the state. There’s an excitement out there, and I can’t wait for school to start.”
Over the next few days, teachers and staff will have in-service, working closely with their principals to assure all is ready for the new school year.
“The rooms have to be prepared, and books have to be set, and technology and teh computers all have to be worked on in preparation for the upcoming school year,” Manchin said. “Next week, nearly 11,000 students will be coming into our schools, and we’ve to be ready for them.”
Manchin said he’s anticipating a great year for Harrison County Schools.
“It’s always exciting because of a number of things,” he said. “We’re partnering with parents in preparing their children for the future, providing quality education, making sure they have the skills necessary to compete in the world, and that’s so exciting.
“There’s no other profession, perhaps short of the medical profession, that has such an incredible impact on children’s lives.”
That type of impact is what Manchin said continues to keep him excited each school year, even after being in education for over 40 years.
“If we do it right, there’s a good chance they can go on and be successful in life,” he said. “We have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Harrison County to do everything we can to prepare our classrooms, our teachers, our service personnel, our administrators and all of us, for these students who will be coming next week.”