The summer has been a busy one for the Marshall County School System: Lewisburg elementary schools have been reconfigured; teachers are moving from school to school; and prospective employees are being interviewed and hired for positions throughout the system.

Because of the reconfiguration, school start and stop times have changed for most of the Lewisburg schools.

* Oak Grove Elementary students (kindergarten and first grade) will begin their day at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:40 p.m. Start and stop times for Pre-K, also housed at OGES, will remain the same (8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

* Students attending Marshall Elementary (second and third grades) will start at 8 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.

* Boys and girls at Westhills Elementary (fourth, fifth and sixth grades) will begin classes at 7:50 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m.

* Marshall County High School's day will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

These changes have been made to accommodate the timely drop off and pick up for buses and parents, and to help ease congestion at the Lewisburg schools in the mornings and afternoons.

The start and stop times for Marshall County's remaining schools will stay the same: Chapel Hill Elementary, 7:40 a.m.-2:40 p.m.; Forrest School, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Cornersville Elementary, 7:35 a.m.-2:35 p.m.; Cornersville School, 7:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.; Lewisburg Middle School, 7:50 a.m.-2:50 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, is the first day of school. This will be an abbreviated day, ending 3-1/2 hours from the start time of your child's school (check start times above). Among the topics covered on this day, the students will go through a mock schedule and receive vital information about the system and their school. Breakfast will be served, and since this is considered a school day, attendance will be taken.

The first full day of school in the Marshall County School System is Monday, Aug. 12.

While considering start/stop times and what grades will be housed where, the safety of students is always at the top of the list. Entrance buzzers and cameras are currently being installed at the front entrances of Marshall County's schools. Anyone wishing to enter a school must now be buzzed in by school personnel, who will view the front entrance via a monitor in the main office. The only exceptions are Oak Grove and Cornersville Elementary. The entrances to these schools are designed in such a way that visitors are funneled through the front office before gaining access to the hallways and classrooms.

"I hope parents will not view this as an inconvenience, but as another way to keep their children safe," said Director of Schools Jackie Abernathy.

For more information about the upcoming school year, contact your child's school or visit the Marshall County School System's website at www.k12marshall.net.