Classes started Wednesday. The district has received a state Classroom for the Future grant of nearly $100,000 to be used for new laptop computers in classrooms, whiteboards and LCD projectors.

Classes started Monday. Lunch prices increased by about 10 cents to $1 for breakfast, $1.60 for elementary school lunch, and $1.70 for middle/high school lunch.

Classes begin Sept. 8 for about 1,500 students. Construction at the middle school/high school enters its second year, with a new library, music rooms, computer labs and cafeteria to be open this school year. Grants have been received from the state Department of Education Classrooms for the Future and HP Technology. A Highmark HighFive grant will introduce new activities in physical education for students from kindergarten through grade 12. Lunch prices have been increased 10 cents.

Students will greet new Superintendent Linda Mancini when classes begin Tuesday. With enrollment expected at 967, students will have three new teachers for elementary school, high school art and ninth-grade language arts. Teachers have been training in the use of Ed Insight for curriculum mapping and data making decisions to use with lesson plans.

Classes began Monday. The district has a partnership with the University of Pittsburgh for an educational leadership initiative to include these district team members: Andrea Layton, Annette Bogo, Barb Hartlaub, Dave Mason, Debbie Iams, Jackie Young, Jill Hildreth, John Lipscomb, John Yates, Judy Verno, Scott Headlee and Jerome Bartley.

Three goals for this year are continued improved communications throughout the district relating to student achievement; integration of technology into the curriculum; and inclusion of special education students.

The high school renovation project is in full swing with a planned completion date of December 2009. A new NovaNet pilot program will be introduced with the goal of preventing students from dropping out of school.

The district also received a Highmark grant for a no-bullying program for middle school.

Classes started Wednesday. Helen K. McCracken is the new superintendent, and Greg Taranto is the new assistant to the superintendent.

Mini grants of $800 have been awarded for these district projects to be initiated this year:

• Energy Everywhere, Cecil Intermediate School. Students will explore the global issue of the need for alternative energy sources. The project will enhance the sixth-grade science unit, Heat and Energy.

• Get Up and Move, First Street Elementary School. Fourth-graders will work with a dance mat to burn calories. Research shows that daily exercise helps the brain function.

• Differentiated Home Activity Kits, Muse Elementary School. Fun learning activities for children and their parents to promote family involvement and family literacy. Materials will be sent home for the children to complete with their families.

• Art for the Social Conscience, Canonsburg Middle School. Seventh- and eighth-graders will receive materials to establish a mosaic workshop so they can create pieces to sell to the public to raise money for charity.

• W.I.S.E. Kids@ NSI, North Strabane Intermediate School. Fifth- and sixth-graders will participate in wellness activities and learn about healthy living, nutritious food choices, an active lifestyle, exercises and positive mental well-being.

• Sensory Integration Station, Cecil Intermediate School. A sensory integration station will allow students identified within the autism spectrum the opportunity for sensory stimulation.

Classes began Wednesday for students in the district schools: McGuffey High School, McGuffey Middle School, Claysville Elementary and Joe Walker Elementary.

Classes began Wednesday. Nina Zetty was hired as superintendent. The high school will offer robotics in the technology education program and has launched a medical mentoring program. High school students interested in pursuing a career in the medical field will be able to partner with a local professional and spend more than 70 hours learning firsthand about that career.

Classes began Monday. Mark Alberta is assistant principal at Carroll Middle School, Jason Minitti and Shaun Cooke are assistant principals at the high school, and Deborah DiMascio is director of Secondary and Pupil Services.

The district has updated the mathematics curriculum with the implementation of the 2009 McDougal Littell Series in the high school, Carroll Middle School and Finley Middle School.

At the elementary centers, the intermediate grades will be introduced to the 2009 HSP series while the primary grades will use the revised version of Saxon Mathematics.

Study Island, a site-based technology resource, will be used to reinforce reading and mathematics concepts in preparation for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests. The elementary centers will begin using Foss and Carolina biological science modules.

Classes started Monday, beginning a yearlong 50th anniversary celebration of the high school building. The anniversary will be observed with various events throughout the year. It will culminate with alumnus and Greene County President Judge H. Terry Grimes serving as commencement speaker.

Jason Pappas, of Brownsville, is the new assistant middle school-senior high school principal. A Classroom of the Future grant has enabled the district to hire a coach for technology. Also, tutoring will be offered to students who did not receive high scores on achievement tests.

Classes began Aug. 21 with an increase of 30 students, bringing enrollment to 215. This is the first year for a pre-kindergarten transition program for children who are too old for the 4-year-old program but too young for the 5-year-old kindergarten program.

Four Smart Boards have been added, and Internet access has been expanded to the entire building. A 52-inch plasma television has been installed in the cafeteria through a grant from Mellon Bank. It will be used for educational videos and school assemblies.