This is a day long in coming – not only the beginning of a new school year for thousands students in Eastern Jackson County but also a day of new hope for the portions of Sugar Creek and western Independence that have transferred to the Independence School District.
Not only did voters overwhelmingly approve the change last fall, but the change has unleashed a wave of energy and enthusiasm within the community. That’s taken the form of such work as cleaning up and painting the six schools involved.
That’s only the beginning. Now classes start, and parents will be looking to new teachers and administrators to help set higher expectations for their children. Test scores, for example, won’t turn around overnight, but commitment and long-term effort will pay off.
This is also a big week in the Fort Osage School District, where a fifth elementary school – Indian Trails – opens Tuesday. It’s a measure of the district’s growth and progress.
