Education

(CBS 11 News)
Many North Texas schools wrapped up day one of the new school year. Campuses all around the metro area welcomed youngsters for the first day of school.

Several teachers spent all last week preparing for this day. Last week, the Dallas Independent School District hosted a pep rally for its employees to get them pumped up for the new school year.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa visited several schools, including the district's newest school Francisco "Pancho" Medrano Middle School. The school was named in honor of the late Dallas civil rights activist and leader. The "green building" is energy-efficient down it its science labs and media rooms.

Faces on campus won't just be the students. State monitors will be on the campuses of three Dallas schools -- Spruce and Samuell high schools and Comstock Middle School. All three have consecutive years of low performance and the schools face closure if they don't improve.

Spruce High School has one year to improve academic performance or the state will shut the school down and start over. Under a reorganization plan, only freshman and seniors are left on the Pleasant Grove campus. Hundreds of the school's former students were sent to other DISD schools.

DISD also has set up a hotline for the first week of school to answer parents' last-minute questions and concerns. Call (972) 925-kids or (972) 925-5437 to get information.

The Fort Worth Independent School District started the new year with a newly designed Web site, which allows parents to have a more active role in their child's education.

Students and staff are noticing changes because of budget cuts. At South Hills Elementary and other campuses, recycling is now mandatory. The district is enforcing a no idling policy for school buses.

A new charter school also opened in Fort Worth. Chapel Hill Academy is the brainchild of the Lena Pope Home, a non-profit organization that has served Tarrant County children and families for more than 77 years. The school is open to pre-kindergarten through the first grade.

Six-year-old Jessie Hall started first grade at Stuard Elementary in Aledo. The school principal celebrated Jessie's return by giving her a special welcome in the morning announcements.

Jessie suffered from a rare neurological condition that caused her to have severe seizures. In June, doctors removed the right half of Jessie's brain to help her condition.

In addition, there are several new rules for students this school year. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders must have 225 minutes of physical activity in a two-week period. For high schoolers, students must take a parenting preparation class and now have the elective option of a bible class.

Students returning to Texas Christian University for fall classes are noticing quite a few changes. The new Brown Lupton University Union is now open in the center of campus. The 145,000 square-foot building has a dining area, a convenience store, sports grill, post office, Movie Theater and a ballroom.

There is also a new residence hall on campus. Clark Hall was renovated as a co-ed dormitory. Jarvis Residence Hall was turned into office space.

Getting into the new school year routine is not just an adjustment for kids, but drivers, too. As many public school students head back to school today, drivers are reminded school zones go back into effect this morning.

In addition to slowing down, many municipalities have banned handheld cell phone use, which includes no texting. Cell phone bans are in effect in Dallas, Flower Mound, Irving, Sachse, Lake Dallas, Keller and Birdville.

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