Students in the Hempfield Area School District returned to classrooms Thursday.
The district instructs more than 5,000 students across its nine schools — Fort Allen, Maxwell, West Hempfield, West Point and Stanwood elementaries; West Hempfield and Wendover middle schools; Harrold School for ninth graders; and high school.
To help students get home earlier, the school board voted this summer to adjust the school day schedule.
High school students start 10 minutes later, at 7:30 a.m., and dismiss 15 minutes earlier, at 2:30 p.m. Middle school students start an hour earlier, at 7:30 a.m., and dismiss 50 minutes earlier, at 2:30 p.m.
Elementary students begin arriving a half-hour earlier, at 8:30 a.m., and dismiss 20 minutes earlier at 3:20 p.m.
The district starts the school year with a new face in its leadership team. Deputy Superintendent Emily Sanders, a former Beaver Area administrator, was hired in June to take the place of Kimberlie Rieffannacht, a former assistant superintendent who now heads Greater Latrobe School District.