Summer vacation will officially be over for more than 270,000 students and 15,000 teachers in Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), as they head back to the classroom on Monday, August 21, 2017 – the first day of school.
Runcie to meet students
BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie will visit several schools on opening day to welcome students, parents, teachers and staff to another exciting new school year. Starting his day similar to most students, with a bus ride, the Superintendent will greet District school bus operators before boarding a bus to his first school stop.
“I am excited to welcome our students and families to the new school year,” said Superintendent Runcie. “Across our great District there are incredible learning opportunities ahead, with all of our innovative District schools offering high-quality programs and educational experiences for students.”
Professional sports teams to visit schools
South Florida professional sports teams are skipping practice on Monday to go back to school. Teams making stops to motivate students on the first day of school include the Florida Panthers at Broadview Elementary School and the Miami Marlins at Bayview Elementary School.
Confident of smooth bus operations
Following an early practice run of 1,000 routes throughout Broward County, school bus operators are confident of a smooth start on the first day. The District’s massive transportation operation, which includes a fleet of 1,248 school buses and 73,000 student riders, makes it one of the largest school district operated fleets in the country. All buses are equipped with GPS technology to track locations and report any emergencies.
While creating educational opportunities around the historic solar eclipse, which also takes place on the first day of school, the District is taking proactive measures to keep students safe during this event. As a precautionary measure, all outdoor activities at all District schools between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. will be moved indoors. Schools will dismiss at the regular time.
