MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Officials reported high student attendance on the first day of classes in Miami-Dade, Monday, and the school superintendent called it a rewarding experience.
Speaking with reporters at the iPrep Academy in Miami, Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the start of classes went off without a hitch. “I’m calling it a successful first day,” he said. “In fact, I was just conferring with our chief operating officer, and we have not been able to find a glitch.”
Carvalho spent the entire day on the move. His first school stop, at Miami Norland Senior High School in Miami Gardens, was a special one. “How are you feeling?” he asked students.
“Fired up!” they chanted.
“Love it,” said Carvalho.
Norland was one of several Miami-Dade schools that underwent significant upgrades and renovations during the summer.
With a new school year, Norland students said, comes a new school environment. “I think it’s gonna be refreshing,” said junior Kadeja Johnson.
“I feel like this year is going to be a great year for everybody,” said another student. “Everybody’s feeling renewed, and everybody feels like that they can do things better now, ’cause this is a new school, new attitude.”
Carvalho checked in with Norland students for feedback about the massive $42 million renovation. “I’m extremely proud of the fact that we have replaced all of the inner city high schools in Miami-Dade. This is the last one,” he said. “It constitutes the largest investment under our bond.”
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There are 75 other renovation projects like Norland’s that wrapped up over the summer. “We are ahead of schedule and below budget,” said Carvalho.
Over at Arcola Lake Elementary School, students received a superhero welcome with staffers dressed as costumed do-gooders, not only to start the day on a high note but celebrating moving the school’s grade from an “F” to a “C.”
Big names of another kind delighted students at Shadowlawn Elementary School, which moved from an “F” to a “B.” Miami Heat players handed school supplies to the starstruck pupils as Heat mascot Burnie gave high-fives all around.
Heat player Briante Weber echoed some students’ concerns over the Zika virus. “There’s a lot of nervousness, a lot of kids wanting to stay home with their parents and all of that,” he said, “but for them to get out here and see how committed the Heat Organization is, we’re giving back to them and giving them supplies for this week and this school year in general.”
During the news conference, Carvalho thanked school staff and faculty for rising up to the challenge. “It’s amazing that we fed this morning over 80,000 kids, close to 200,000 for lunch,” he said. “We transported about 50,000 kids, and all systems were go from 5 o’clock in the morning.”
And what would the day be without education, even for those outside the classroom? Miami-Dade Fire Rescue worked to keep drivers alert with Operation Stop, Drop & Roll, with a twist. “We want you to stop accelerating, drop your speed to 15 miles an hour and roll cautiously through all school zones” said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Shane Pyle.
Carvalho said students can expect a different environment during the 2016-2017 school year. In particular, he touted new technology available for the first in many classrooms across the county.
The superintendent reminded parents all public schools in Miami-Dade offer free breakfasts to students, as he advised them to ensure their children arrive on time or even a little early.
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