Madison-Grant United School District

First day: School started Tuesday.

Initial enrollment: About 1,500, roughly same as last school year.

Key dates: No school on Labor Day, Sept. 7; fall break, Oct. 22-23; Thanksgiving break, Nov. 26-27; Christmas break, Dec. 18-Jan. 4; Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18 (unless makeup day needed); Presidents Day, Feb. 12-15 (unless makeup days needed); spring break, March 22-26; Good Friday, April 2 (unless makeup day needed); May 14 (unless makeup day needed); Last day of school is May 27.

What you need to know: The school district has combined afternoon bus routes, reducing routes from two to one for efficiency. Superintendent John Trout said the first day of school went smoothly, and the new transportation plan met projected schedules ... The changes in transportation have meant a slight adjustment in schedules for middle and high school students.

What’s new this year: Madison-Grant is in the final stages of aligning all curriculum to the nine-week quarterly grading period. This will also include nine-week assessments that more closely align with state expectations on standardized testing. Students won’t experience much of a change, but for educators, there will be an emphasis on aligning daily and weekly lesson plans.

Who you need to know: Superintendent John Trout, 948-4143. E-mail jtrout@mgusc.k12.in.us.

Where you can get school information: The school corporation’s Web site, www.mgusc.k12.in.us.