IVA — One of the major events that will occur in Anderson School District 3 during 2008 will be the opening of Flat Rock Elementary School for the 2008–09 school year.

Flat Rock Elementary is the first new school built in District 3 since the early 1970s and will become the third elementary school in the district.

Enrollment at Flat Rock will initially be around 400 students, with a capacity of 600 students.

Elementary school attendance lines will be adjusted so the enrollments at Iva and Starr elementary schools will be lower. The portable classrooms that have been used at those schools no longer will be needed.

Two classrooms for special education students at Flat Rock Elementary will be equipped with a life-skills laboratory. Crescent High School also utilizes a life-skills laboratory for special education students.

For the first time in a number of years, Crescent High School will field soccer teams on the varsity and junior varsity levels in

2008-09. For the first year, the teams will be co-ed.

In future years, Crescent will have both girls’ and boys’ soccer teams.

The inclusion of technology to enhance instruction continues to be emphasized in District 3. SmartBoards are in place in nearly all of the district’s classrooms.

The board of trustees has consistently demonstrated its financial support of technology through the district budget.

The members of the board have carried forward the belief in the use of technology and learning new skills by moving toward the paperless board meeting concept.

Board members have acquired laptop computers and are acquiring the necessary skills to operate meetings without the copious amount of paper that had been required previously.

A district-wide alert system will be used for the first time in District 3 in 2008-09. This is a computerized system operated through SchoolMessenger.

Whenever an emergency event such as school closings as a result of inclement weather occurs, district administrators can initiate a recorded telephone message that can reach all parents and staff members within a matter of minutes.

If schools need to dismiss early because of an emergency, parents will be notified almost immediately through the use of the SchoolMessenger system.

Other security procedures have been added or enhanced at the schools. Security cameras are in place in many locations throughout the district, with the number of cameras being increased.

Many exterior doors at schools are secured with electronic locks that require a special card to operate.

While District 3 is relatively small in population, it is proud of the close contact with staff, parents and community that is permitted by the school system’s size.

L. Hugh Smith is the superintendent of Anderson School District 3.