As many area students prepare to go back to school Aug. 8, 10 and 15, the Selma City, Dallas County and private school systems have been making preparations for opening day all summer.

Dallas County School superintendent Fannie McKenzie said summertime is a crucial time for planning.

“The summer is a time to plan and engage in professional development activities,” McKenzie said. “Custodians wash windows, strip and wax floors. Administration develops schedules for teachers and students and revisits policies. It’s a busy time; as soon as school is out, we start doing certain things, like maintenance, organize… teachers register for the year and everyone comes together formally.

“We started to ready facilities, and facilities will be ready for opening in early August.”

McKenzie said recruiting and hiring new teachers is also crucial.

“All things must be planned…the summer is a time to order and calibrate certain equipment…complete reports from state department of education, do calendars,” McKenzie said. “We have strategic teaching for new hires and additional resources for middle and high school students. This is a time for administrators at school sites to update student and teacher handbooks.”

With administrative meetings, teacher orientations and support personnel training during the first two weeks of August, McKenzie has agendas in place for the upcoming school year.

“We have professional development plans for K-3 elementary teachers for reading — it’s called ‘Justice for all,’ a literacy training for reading coaches by the State Department of Education,” McKenzie said. “We’ll have parent facilitators who work with targeted families (e.g. homeless) getting them necessities, like uniforms, pencils and paper. We also have training for special education teachers using a new software program.”

Selma City School Superintendent Don Jefferson said the school system is doing a few things to spruce up local schools’ aesthetics. The Selma City School Board approved the replacement of carpeting at two schools — Sophia P. Kingston and Knox Elementary, by Carpet Plus. The project will cost $59,859.29.

“At Sophia P. Kingston, Knox Elementary and School of Discovery we’re changing the carpet up in classrooms and the library,” Jefferson said. “At Cedar Park, Edgewood Elementary and (Selma) CHAT Academy we’ve been painting.”

Morgan Academy Headmaster Randy Skipper said Morgan staff is also sprucing things up. Skipper said everything is pretty much ‘ready to go.’

“We’ve done several things this summer — we’ve painted, installed some new stuff on the football field, gotten new lockers,” Skipper said. “We’re getting schedules ready…We’re getting into the game day face and getting ready for our orientation in a couple of weeks.”

Morgan Academy and Meadowview Christian will begin Aug. 10 and Ellwood Christian Academy will begin with Selma City Schools on Aug. 8. Dallas County Schools will open Aug. 15.