SELLERSBURG, Ind. — The first group of Kentuckiana students were welcomed back to the classroom Thursday morning.
Silver Creek School Corporation schools in Sellersburg, Indiana opened its doors to students after a long summer break.
Students attending Silver Creek High School are returning to class in the middle of a major construction project.
Silver Creek Superintendent Chad Briggs says the project is right on schedule, with the new addition to the high school expected to be ready to open this Fall.
“We’re basically renovating every area of our high school. We’re also adding significant square footage," Briggs said. "That’s what’s happening right now, we’re adding the new. That is on pace to get done by the middle of October."
Once the new addition is ready, crews will begin renovating the existing high school. That project is set to complete next year.
Briggs said school officials are excited to have students back in the classroom.
“The best part about the first day of school is everybody is glad to be back," Briggs said. "You get a chance to see old friends. Even our employees; they haven’t seen each other for a couple of months, and then you know everyone is quickly back into what we do.”
The district still has some positions left to fill, but Briggs said they've brought in quality teachers to make the best learning environment possible.
“We’re hiring great people," Briggs said. "We don’t have everything filled right now but we’re well on the way to getting those positions filled. We had some late resignations in the last couple of weeks, but you know we’re finding great people. And even though the pool of applicants may not be as deep as it was, historically, they’re still very high-quality people.”
The Superintendent said many teachers and facilities employees have been preparing for the first day of school most of summer break.
“We’ve been building up to this for years," Briggs said. "We’ve had a need for a long time and it’s going to be really nice when it’s done. As you tour it now, you know when you tour it every couple of weeks or once a month, you see the transportation that’s taking place and every time you’re like, ‘Wow this is going to be really neat when it’s done.’”