All the parking places along Washington Street were filled early Wednesday morning due to the nearly 300 teachers, staff, and administrators from the Selma City School System gathered at J.A. Pickard Auditorium for the annual kick-off for the new school year.

Though school officially begins on Monday, teachers and staff are required to return to work this week in order to have their classrooms ready by the time students walk in the door.

The day began with the Teachers Institute at the auditorium, where Superintendent Dr. James Carter set the tone for the 2004-05 school year.

“We are going to hit the ground running,” Carter said. “We intend to improve school achievement across the board.”

Carter, a strong believer in the No Child Left Behind program, wants his staff to focus on closing the achievement gap between white, black and disabled students.

In his speech to teachers during the Institute, Carter said no classes should be “watered down” for any reason.

“I want classes to be taught the way they should be taught, but I want you to find ways to reach every child,” Carter said.

Another priority for the school system this year will be to establish an Early High School College Initiative, a program allowing ninth-grade students to begin working towards a college degree along with a high school diploma.

“When these students graduate, they will have a high school diploma and a two-year degree,” Carter said.

Tommy Chambers, national director for the Early High School College Initiative, attended the meeting to explain how the program operates and get teachers motivated.

“Research shows that it can be done, it can be successful, and we can make it successful,” Chambers said.

The city school systems is also looking into creating a mentor program for it teachers to help them become successful and improve retention.

“Teaching is something special. It is the last hope our children have in life,” Carter said. “The challenge is to go in with a positive attitude and give the students love and affection. I have confidence (teachers) will do the right thing when it comes to the boys and girls in our classrooms.”

The superintendent says he is looking forward to the new school year and will do everything he can to ensure no child is being left behind.