Satsuma's new school system begins first year

SATSUMA, Ala. (WALA) - School bells rang for students for the first time in Satsuma's new city school system Monday.

About 14 students are enrolled in the new school system.

The sign on the building still says grades three through five, but this year Robert E. Lee will house all of Satsuma's elementary students from kindergarten through sixth grade.

Principal Dana Price was expecting a few glitches on the first day of school, but she was pleasantly surprised.

"Well, we had a better than anticipated start this morning. So if this is any indication of what our year is going to be like, we're looking at an awesome year," Price said.

Theresa O'Neal said her fourth grade daughter was nervous about the new school. She went Chickasaw Magnet School last year.

PHOTOS: First day of school at Lee Elementary

"Being a new school, and not knowing everybody, but the first thing that happened is she walked in and saw somebody she knows. And a lady that goes to my church works in the office, so she's good," O'Neal said.

First grade teacher Cecelia Fulmer has been teaching at Lee for the past 20 years, but she called Monday a "new beginning".

"To me, that's one of the most important things that we need to have here, are teachers that are willing to make a difference and be excited about their community,. And make sure our kids succeed in everything that we do," Fulmer said.

The principal at Satsuma High said things were a little more hectic at the higher grade levels.

"Controlled chaos." he said.

Cliff Maddox said students and parents will notice a lot of differences at the high school this year.

"We'll have seventh and eighth grades on campus for the first time. We have a lot of logistical areas to cover, traffic routing, and student movement to and from the cafeteria and gymnasium," he said.

Maddox expects most of the bugs will be worked out by the end of the week.

About 325 students transferred to Satsuma from other school systems.