Classes start for students on Tuesday, September 7. Some 1,370 students are expected to report the first day, said finance officer Donna Booth.

Teachers and administrative staff have been hard at work for several weeks getting the schools and classrooms ready.

The new high school principal, David Dixon, replaces Michael Myers. Dixon said he is looking forward to his new job.

“I don’t foresee any major challenges,” said Dixon.

New teachers include Adam Slagle, middle school social studies teacher, who replaces Greg Acre; Maria Navarro, high school Spanish teacher, who replaces Marguerite Monett; Rebecca Crowther, elementary teacher, who replaces Laura Sink; Angela Ellis, elementary special education teacher, who replaces Kim Farmer; Christopher Barnes, elementary teacher, who replaces Kristen Krupa, and new regional special education teacher Wendy Kulpa.

Assistant superintendent Dale Whittler said one new position had been added to the employee list. Martha Hicks, assistant principal at the high school for the last three years has been given the title of director of at-risk students. Her job will be to assist with student attendance and credit recovery.

The division failed to meet 2009 average yearly progress (AYP) goals because of a lower than acceptable on-time graduation rate. The bar was set at 80 percent by the Virginia Board of Education in June, but Northumberland had a rate of 73 percent for 2009, according to school officials.

Raising the graduation rate and lowering the dropout rate of nearly 18 percent are top priorities for Northumberland school staff this year, said Superintendent Clint Stables.

Elementary school hours are 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Middle school and high school hours are 7:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.