Today marks Day One of the 2003 – 2004 Selma City Schools year. As the first bell of the day rings students will file back into classrooms, open their textbooks and begin another year of study.

We wish them well.

There are changes this year, a reduced staff among them, but that shouldn’t be a reason for parents to worry. New Selma High School Principal Joe Peterson said his main goals for the year included improving student achievement, boosting morale and encouraging parental involvement.

An attitude we should all share.

Regardless of our age, race or religion, our public schools should be a concern to everyone. The children struggling through algebra today are the leaders of tomorrow. It’s in our best interests to make sure our children are prepared for the challenges not only of today, but also of tomorrow and the next day.

New Knox Elementary School Principal Jocelyn Reddick said her plans for the new school year included increasing performance on standardized tests, achieving 100 percent literacy by grade 3 and reducing teacher stress.

A tall task, but not when we help.

By following Peterson’s plan of getting parents more involved in their child’s education, everyone benefits. Lessons learned at school and reinforced at home are twice as likely to sink in and take hold. Parents who speak with their child’s teachers on a regular basis know more about their child’s academic performance, understand any problems the teacher may have and can therefore play an active role in fixing those problems.

And that can reduce a lot of teacher stress.

As the bell rings this morning and students shuffle back into their seats, they aren’t the only ones returning to school. Parents and grandparents, teachers, librarians and the community at large join them in their own way.

See you after school.