Smooth sailing reported for opening day

All Fallon schools started this week with many reporting a successful opening.

“I think this is one of the smoothest starts we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Dr. Sandra Sheldon, superintendent of Churchill County schools. “Our bus routes went well. Our drop-offs and pick-ups with parents went great, especially at Lahontan and Northside.”

Transportation has been a concern since last school year, specifically bus routes and wait times especially during hot weather.

Oasis Academy and Logos Christian Academy also said bus transportation went well.

“Transportation has been excellent,” said Melissa Mackedon, executive director at Oasis. “(Wednesday) we had all the kids picked up in 10 minutes.”

Logos Christian Academy received additional buses for the year from Naval Air Station Fallon and the Churchill County Parks and Recreation Department.

“The week went very smoothly,” said Jack Beach, administrator of Logos. “We had a great turnout at our back-to-school night and everyone is settling in nicely.”

In addition to new technology being used in many of the schools, the district’s new food service provider, Chartwells, is another change for this this week.

Chartwells is part of the Compass Group’s education sector and is the world’s largest contract food service provider. Chartwells and the district are offering a new breakfast option for students and staff.

“Our breakfast folks were up and ready and our lunches are going strong with our new lunch program,” Sheldon said. “We’re felling really confident about starting off a great year.”

Gregg Malkovich, principal at Lahontan Elementary School, said meal times and transportation loading and unloading can be slow with 5- and 6-year-olds but that’s to be expected. He said they appreciated all the patient parents

Sheldon said there have been a lot of district changes but many people worked hard over the summer to make the transitions as easy as possible.

“Obviously there are a few bumps in the road,” Sheldon added, “but by the end of this week, we’ll be running smoothly. It becomes routine and then things work well.”