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Aug. 22—Editor's note: This story was updated to correct an error in the list of new administrators in the Schuylkill Valley School District.

It's that time of year again.

Big yellow buses will soon be rolling down streets around Berks County. Classrooms will soon be filled with students.

School is back.

The 2022-23 school year starts to kick off this week, with three districts (Antietam, Boyertown and Gov. Mifflin) opening their doors on Monday.

By the end of the week, 12 of the county's 18 school districts will be back up and running. And the other six districts will join them the following week.

With teachers, students, administrators and parents all preparing for another school year, the Reading Eagle checked in with each district in the county to see what's new for the new school year.

Antietam

First day of school: Aug. 22/23 (a staggered start).

What's new:

—The district has added 18 teachers and staff members, as well two new administrators. Nicole Schieck is the new principal at Mount Penn Primary Center, and Amanda Munson is the new kindergarten through sixth grade assistant principal and multitiered systems of support coordinator.

—The district has received a Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. The grant will be used to open the CLIMB after-school and summer enrichment center for students in grades kindergarten through sixth. Opening in October, the center will be at Pennside Presbyterian Church and the Antietam Valley Recreation Center.

Boyertown

First day of school: Aug. 22.

What's new:

—The district will focus on its "Portrait of a Graduate" work, which looks at what impact the district should have on its students and what impact those students will have on the world.

—The district will continue to offer video parent-teacher conferences.

—The district is taking a fresh look at its safety and security plans with a new focus on mental health preparedness.

—Lisa DeRenzo is returning as principal of Washington Elementary School.

—The district is welcoming more than 20 new teachers.

Brandywine Heights

First day of school: Aug. 23.

What's new:

—With funds from a state Pre-K Counts grant, the district is opening a free pre-kindergarten classroom for 15 students ages 3 and 4. The new classroom is in addition to one operated by the Berks County Intermediate Unit.

—The district is continuing to expand its computer science program with the addition of a fourth course that is focused on computer programming. The course includes lessons on web applications, the Internet of Things and mobile application development.

—The district is introducing a comprehensive overview of its academic system, which includes revamping schedules at the high school and middle school to add additional instructional time. It also includes the use of a comprehensive and consistent screening tool that will help target students' skill deficits. A revamped structure for helping struggling students will also be used.

—The district will welcome two administrators: William Ostroski will take over as an assistant principal at the high school, and Michelle Ward will assume the role of assistant principal at the intermediate/middle school.

Conrad Weiser

First day of school: Aug. 24

What's new:

—The district has unveiled a mobile app that allows users to access documents, information on events, news updates and emergency notifications. It can be downloaded for Apple and Android phones.

—The district has launched a revamped website. It can be found at conradweiser.org.

—The district has hired additional teachers at each of its buildings to enhance instructional delivery and manage class sizes.

—The special education department has expanded programs.

—Construction projects are concluding that will give the district additional classroom, athletic and group instructional spaces.

—A social worker has been added to the staff and an agreement is being finalized with Cook Center for Human Connection in Utah to provide resources to the community.

Daniel Boone

First day of school: Aug. 25.

What's new:

—The district is implementing universal full-day kindergarten.

—The schools are shifting which grades they serve as part of a new rightsizing plan. Daniel Boone Primary Center will serve kindergarten through first grade; Daniel Boone Intermediate Center will serve second through fourth; Daniel Boone Middle School will serve fifth and sixth in the lower house and seventh and eighth in the upper house; Daniel Boone High School will serve ninth through 12th.

—The district will implement a school police plan in buildings through a combination of armed school police officers and armed and unarmed school security officers.

Exeter

First day of school: Aug. 29.

What's new:

—Dr. Christy Haller has been named superintendent after spending 16 years in the district's administration. She plans to focus on improving academics and instruction at all grade levels and improving student and staff mental health.

—The district is continuing its focus on supporting community partnerships including local libraries, food pantries, the United Way of Berks County, the Exeter Community Education Foundation and the Exeter Women's Club.

—Jessica Kaiser has been named the district's new secondary special education supervisor.

—Matthew Hathaway has been named the new principal at Jacksonwald Elementary School, and Charles Payne has been named the new principal at Owatin Creek Elementary School.

Fleetwood

First day of School: Aug. 29.

What's new:

—The district is welcoming five administrators. Dr. Mike Kelly will be the new assistant superintendent; Dr. Natalie Lytle has been named director of curriculum and assessment; Brian Hostetler will take over as principal of the middle school; Jennifer Neiman is the new assistant principal at the high school; and Jennifer Bergstresser has been named dean of students at the middle school.

—The district is bolstering mental health services by adding a support team of social workers who will work with students and families.

Gov. Mifflin

First day of school: Aug. 22.

What's new:

—Gov. Mifflin High School is welcoming two associate principals. Melissa Taylor previously taught at Reading High School and in Oakland, Los Angeles and the South Bronx. T.J. Miller previously worked in the Mifflin district, as well as for the Penn Manor School District in Lancaster County and the Boyertown School District.

—The district will welcome a new internship and school-to-work coordinator. Kristi Bonanno will take over the programs that place high school students in internship programs with local businesses, in-district offices and various professionals. Bonanno previously served as a business teacher at Mifflin High School.

—The district has unveiled a website with a clean, modern interface. The site can be viewed at gmsd.org.

—The Gov. Mifflin Community Partnership will continue to meet monthly. The group is made up of district staff, educators, families and community members and focuses on identifying, creating and taking actionable steps to achieve equity, inclusion and belonging in schools and the community.

—The district is partnering with the Albright Science Research Center to provide teachers with training in total experience learning, and instructional model that supports student learning through hands-on, experienced-based learning.

Hamburg

First day of school: Aug. 25.

What's new:

—A math resource has been introduced for students and teachers in grades kindergarten through eight.

—Several classrooms and libraries in the district have been transformed with new paint, carpets and furniture to help support active learning.

—Seven staff members have joined the district.

—Ninth-grade students will participate in new activities to help support their transition to high school.

—All staff members will receive additional safety training and participate in safety drills.

Kutztown

First day of school: Aug. 23.

What's new:

—The district is partnering with Communities in Schools to make social workers available to connect with students and families at the high school and middle school level. At the elementary school level, those services will be replicated through an internship partnership with the social work department at Kutztown University.

—The high school will unveil areas honoring alumni accomplishments. First will be the grand opening for Braucher Court, which honors Kutztown basketball legend Dick Braucher. And a partnership between the Kutztown Area School District Education Foundation and muralist Mike Miller will result in a community-inspired mural designed by high school students.

—The district will focus on building components of resilience, perseverance and motivation.

—The district will welcome two administrators. Melissa Devlin has been named director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, and Beth Ann Siteman has been named business administrator.

Muhlenberg

First day of school: Aug. 29.

What's new:

—The district has two new departments: pupil services and human resources. The pupil services department will be headed by Michael Mish, and the human resources department will be headed by Dr. Jessica Heffner.

—The district is partnering with the Berks County Intermediate Unit and the Caron Foundation to provide professional development on literacy and mental health.

—The district has made enhancements to its wellness and mental health offerings.

—Sport-specific strength and conditional programs will be offered at the high school, made possible by the completion of a university-level weight room.

Oley Valley

First day of school: Aug. 23.

What's new:

—The district is relaunching the high school library as the Oley Valley High School Library Learning Hub. It will include a makerspace for independent student learning, a reorganization of lending materials and creating zones for quiet study, collaboration, reading and presenting.

—The Oley Valley Middle School Technology Student Association is organizing activities and making kits available through the middle school library's STEM center in preparation for the implementation of new state science standards.

—Oley Valley Elementary School is using a state grant to open a Pre-K Counts classroom. The program will consist of one full-day classroom for 15 students. Applications are available in the elementary school front office.

—Oley Valley High School's earth and space science pathway will launch new courses.

—Oley Valley Middle School will expand its academic offerings to include a course called planning for a future of wellness. The school will also add a Future Farmers of America club and technology association club.

Reading

First day of school: Aug. 29.

What's new:

—The district is implementing a three-tier school safety plan that will see the addition of more school safety offices, alarmed exterior doors with high resolution surveillance cameras at Reading High and a state-of-the-art weapons detection systems.

—The district is completing a $22 million summer building improvement project at eight schools. Some of the highlights of the project include securing main entrances, main office renovations, exterior door and window replacements, structural repairs and restorations, and lighting and electrical upgrades.

—Through a partnership with the Albright Science Research Institute, 50 fifth graders will spend half of their regular school day at Albright College taking part in the institute's total experience learning academy. At the academy, they will get hands-on learning experiences in social studies, English, art, music, library research and other topics.

—In an attempt to recruit and retain employees, all district employees were provided a pay increase for the upcoming school year. The district is also welcoming 130 new employees.

—Reading High is expanding its course offerings by adding two business courses, social media marketing and music design and marketing.

Schuylkill Valley

First day of school: Aug. 25.

What's new:

—The district will welcome three administrators: Dr. Shannon O'Donnell is the new principal at Schuylkill Valley Elementary School; Toni Crater is the new assistant principal at Schuylkill Valley High School; and Jennifer Gabryluk is the new assistant principal at Schuylkill Valley Middle School.

—The district has added several teachers and support staff employees.

—A roof restoration has been completed at Schuylkill Valley Elementary School, and a project that will improve heating, ventilation and air conditioning is in process.

Tulpehocken

First day of school: Aug. 24.

What's new:

—The district will focus on the theme "the faces behind the shield," which stresses the importance of the people who make up the school community. That includes in-service training that focuses on the positive impact staff can have on students.

—The district added two positions: director of teaching and learning, and a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade instructional coach.

—The district will continue to work through economic challenges that have delayed the start of a renovation project at the junior-senior high school.

Twin Valley

First day of school: Aug. 29.

What's new:

—The district will welcome two administrators: Diane VanBodegraven will take over as principal at Robeson Elementary Center, and Courtney Maguire will take over as assistant principal at Twin Valley High School.

—The district will implement a secondary math pilot program for grades five through 12. The program will help make decisions about what the district's core math resource will be.

—The district will be completing a two-phase Guaranteed Energy Savings Act HVAC project in all five district buildings.

Wilson

First day of school: Aug. 24.

What's new:

—The district has a new leader, with Dr. Christopher Trickett taking over as superintendent on July 1. Trickett has been with the district since 2003, previously serving as assistant superintendent, high school principal, director of technology, high school assistant principal and a technology teacher.

—The district will begin to implement its "Profile of a Wilson Graduate." The profile is a vision for student learning and achievement that will articulate the knowledge, skills and dispositions a student needs for life, college and their career after graduation. Specific goals for the 2022-23 school year will be presented to the community.

—The district will increase its emphasis on early learning with the help of a PA Pre-K Counts grant, which will allow the district to offer a free full-day pre-kindergarten program to all qualifying families. The program is designed for kids ages 3 and up. Classrooms will be offered at Cornwall Terrace Elementary School and Berkshire Heights Early Learning Center.

Wyomissing

First day of school: Aug. 31.

What's new:

—The district has added two administrators: Michelle Kersikoski is the new assistant principal at Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center, and Jason Zeigler is the new assistant principal at Wyomissing Junior-Senior High School.

—The district is completing renovation projects at Wyomissing Hills Elementary Center and Wyomissing Junior-Senior High School. Both will provide additional cafeteria, classroom and instructional space.

—Teachers of grades five through 12 will continue a partnership with the Albright Science Research Institute to implement the instructional principles of total experience learning. The goal is to foster opportunities for innovation and discovery for students.

—The district is continuing to expand partnerships with various local organizations including Albright College, Reading Area Community College, Olivet Boys' and Girls' Club, the Cook Center for Human Connection, Morgan Corporation, Berks Career and Technology Center and the Caron Foundation.