TEMPLE, Texas — Temple ISD is officially back in session for the 2024-2025 school year and 6 News spent the back-to-school morning at Temple High School to get the latest on what's new for the district this year.
Temple ISD Director of Transportation Amy Scopac spoke to 6 News about the importance of SMART tag technology on school buses and the new upgraded parent app for Temple ISD parents.
"This year we have a parent app, upgraded from last years parent portal," Scopac said. "It will allow the parents to receive real time notifications about the status of the bus, availability and the time. They can actually watch the bus on the screen move around town with their child on board."
Temple ISD Superintendent Dr. Bobby Ott wants to emphasize a balanced student experience for the new school year.
"We're going to elevate school spirit to an all-time high, we're bringing back pep rallies. We're doing those kind of things across athletics, fine arts and CTE, "he said. The other side of it is getting back to the basics, eliminating the distractions like cell phones in classes, those kinds of things."
Dr. Ott is continuing his tradition of visiting all 15 Temple ISD campuses on the first day of school, something he has done since he was hired in 2018.
"It just gives me a chance to see as many students as I possibly can, welcome as many teachers and families as I can and just make sure they have the support that they need."
The district is also opening Sampson-Howard Elementary, a brand-new facility that has been eagerly anticipated by the community. It is the first brand new school the district has added in nearly 30 years, according to Ott.
"Temple is the most special place you can be in Texas. They say that if you're on the outside you don't understand and if you're on the inside you can't explain it and there's no words truer than that."
Temple ISD back to school 2024
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