Carson City students return to classes

Students throughout Carson City returned to school Monday, some to significant changes.

At Carson High School, students now have to show identification to leave campus during nutrition and lunch breaks. Freshmen are not allowed to leave.

Principal Ron Beck and dean of students Joe Girdner joined other officials stationed at exits on campus to check IDs as students left.

Beck said the process went smoothly.

"We made the announcement, and kids didn't even attempt to come off," he said. "There were no problems."

The change in traffic flow in front of the school went well also, Beck said. He said there was some bottle necking issues Monday morning, but he expects that to clear up as the week goes by.

"We have a tremendous amount of traffic on the first day," he said.

The new policy prohibiting freshmen from leaving campus was met with mixed reviews.

"It's not fair," freshman Jiro Reyes, 14, concluded. "Why do we have to not go off campus when they could last year?"

Betty Ramirez, 14, agreed.

"It's whack," she said.

Megan Goodal, 14, didn't see any disadvantages to the policy.

"I'm fine with it," she said. "I don't have a car anyway."

Sara Brewer, 14, proposed a compromise.

"It's not bothering me," she said, "but it would be a little bit better if we could go out every once in a while."

At Carson Middle School, students were in for a big change as well.

As part of a new behavior program, Positive Behavior Support, being launched this year, all students are required to wear standard school attire.

The uniform is a light or navy blue polo shirt paired with either khaki or black slacks, shorts or skirts.

Of the nearly 1,200 students who showed up for school Monday, only 13 weren't dressed appropriately, said Gavin Ward, dean of students.

Some of those, he said, were students who wore the correct shirt but had on pants of the wrong color of skirts of the wrong length.

Overall, he said, it was a success.

"The kids I've been talking to are liking it," he said. "For the most part, I would say it's very positive."

Superintendent Richard Stokes visited several schools in the district and said everything was going well.

"It's been awesome," he said. "The weather was perfect. Parents and students were smiling. Teachers were happy to be back. I think the kids were ready to come back, too, quite honestly.

"I couldn't be happier. It's a great start to the school year."

Click here to see more photos from the first day of school. http://nevadaappeal.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=1062593&CategoryID=7317&ListSubAlbums=0.