When Bradford area schools open their doors for the first day of
classes on Monday, students will find new bus routes in place and a
new setting for freshmen at Bradford Area High School.

“We haven’t picked up the kids yet, but we have been working to
deal with all of the bussing issues that we have had in the past,”
said Bradford Area School District Superintendent Sandra Romanowski
on Friday.

“The parents have been notified about the new system. We started
from scratch on this new plan to correct all of the kinks in the
old system that didn’t make a lot of sense,” she explained.

New this year, Bradford Area High School established a ninth
grade “academy” so that freshmen can have most of their classes in
a certain area of a wing of the school. This aims to reduce
incoming students’ confusion and tension. The establishment of the
academy included having several teachers move their classrooms.

“We went to other schools and received a considerable amount of
money in high school reform grants to establish this move,” said
Romanowski. “I really believe that this will help with student
retention and help with their transition into high school.”

She said district enrollment will not be completely certain
until the third day of classes but projections seem to be around
3,000 students, about the same as last year.

Bradford public schools will officially begin with first bell at
7:50 a.m. for students entering sixth grade and incoming freshman;
9 a.m. for students entering kindergarten through fifth grades; and
10:45 a.m. for grades 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12.

Private schools in the area also will have their first day of
classes Monday.

Bradford Area Christian Academy Principal Jim Machuga, who took
the job in early August, reported a 25-percent increase in
enrollment as well as the addition of a new sixth grade.

“We are getting all of the last-minute things in order now, but
we are all proud at the progress of this school,” said Machuga. “We
are expanding dramatically with new computer technologies and
programs to offer a high quality of education -we are a school on
the move.”

With the increase in enrollment, BACA still offers a six-to-1
student-faculty ratio while focusing student education to run
hand-in-hand with community involvement.

“We are proud to offer a full assortment studies including the
use of a full gym and music program,” said Machuga. “For 40
students, we have a tremendous number of opportunities.”

The Learning Center will also start classes Monday with
enrollment holding fine, according to Ellen Mialky, principal. “We
have all the staff in place and we are holding fine.”

Celebrating its 25th year of operation, TLC will offer the same
services with a spruced up building to freshen things up, said
Mialky.

Plans for an anniversary celebration are underway.

St. Bernard Elementary/Middle Schools are also set to offer
their first day of classes Monday. Officials there could not be
reached.