It’s the first day of school soon, and with that in view, we have a rundown of what district residents should know about Stanley-Boyd this year.

With an open house taking place Wednesday, August 9 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the next thing to know is the first school day, this being Monday August 14. A special Wednesday schedule will be followed on Wednesdays this year, as before.

New this year are a remodel of the middle school locker rooms with both bathroom space and a separate nearby classroom, as well as 32 security doors and a bus loop to the north for buses to pull in and out in a more orderly, safe fashion when arriving to drop off students.

The loop, which sits off the north greenhouse, will allow buses to pull in single file, park at an angle, and then exit without needing to reverse, thus enhancing student safety. The doors, meanwhile, are linked to relevant staff phones and can be closed at the press of a button. In the event of an emergency, only a physical key can gain access to different parts of the building.

Water from the newly paved bus loop will drain under the road to a collection area west of the school, and thence to the larger ecosystem.

While attendance is certainly to be preferred, those who need to have a student absent from school at some point this year should call the the district number at 715-644-5534, leaving a voicemail in the appropriate mailbox (elementary of middle/high school) if calling outside regular school hours. This helps the district keep track of attendance on a daily basis.

A free and reduced lunch form for those in need is available at the district website by clicking the “Main Menu tab in the upper right, as is an online enrollment form for those new to the district.

As to staying in touch and getting regular updates, the school district has an app called the Stanley-Boyd App, which can be dowloaded at its website via QR code or by clicking on a link.

As Superintendent Jeff Koenig said recently, “Welcome back!”