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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

You may have noticed the yellow school buses on the road as Davie County Schools students went back to class this week.

The more than 6,000 students represent a stable and committed system, officials said.

Superintendent Jeff Wallace said school administrators and teachers know what’s expected of them, and to be successful, the system also needs to keep up support from parents and the community.

He told school board members earlier this week that the Wednesday start of school was purposeful – that short first weeks of school help students, especially in lower grades.

“You can lose them, especially the younger kids,” he said. “Starting on a Wednesday has been more productive for us.”

Unlike many public school districts, Davie’s numbers continue a slight increase in the number of students.

Before students came on campus, Wallace and staff have been meeting with principals, letting them know what is expected.

“We emphasized being very intentional at the top. We’re committed to holding each other more accountable.

“I expect every child, 6,024 of them (early August) we have enrolled right now, that they can go to somebody, some adult in that school with any situation they have. I expect our principals to create a culture and enviornment where they can,” Wallace said.

“We want to get better. We want to improve. We need parents’ help. We can’t do it alone. It is not our sole responsibility to educate our children, our parents have to partner with us and we need them. They can help hold us accountable, but they need to do their part, as well.”