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Three districts begin school with changes in leadership. One swings the doors of a new school open, while another closes a tradition-rich chapter with sports consolidation.Seven of 11 Luzerne County School Districts, and all Diocese of Scranton schools in the county, begin classes Monday (Bear Creek Community Charter School, the county&#8217;s lone brick and mortar charter, started Aug. 19 and has an early final day slated for May 28).Here is a rundown of what&#8217;s different this year, and what you need to know.CrestwoodThe rockiest start so far has been at Crestwood School District, where a slew of late changes have raised eyebrows and hackles among some parents. The district officially switched bus contractors, from Rinehimer Bus Lines to G. Davis, on July 1, and implemented a sophisticated new bus management software called Transfinder. It is also welcoming a new superintendent, as Bob Mehalick officially steps into the role in September but has already been attending School Board meetings and working on the transition.The transportation changes streamlined routes, removing nine runs while increasing vehicle average occupancy from about 50 percent to 70 percent, but it pushed pickup times for students attending St. Jude Elementary, a Catholic school a bit more than a mile from the high school and administration offices, to as early as 6:30 a.m.That prompted a fierce backlash from parents who registered concerns for nearly three hours in a session with four board members and both Mehalick and Acting Superintendent Joseph Rasmus on Thursday morning following an 8 a.m. special meeting. Rasmus and others promised to revisit the new routes and work to address concerns of long rides for young children and unsafe stops.Crestwood has also revamped class offerings and scheduling in response to issues raised by parents, particularly regarding high school offerings.Hanover Area, Northwest Area leadershipTwo other districts are changing the person at the top. Hanover Area worked out a separation agreement with William Jones following revelations of over-payment for bus service from one company, and the board appointed Scranton School District Elementary Principal Nathan Barrett to fill the post.At Northwest Area, District Operations Director Elizabeth Ellis penned a Facebook post following an Aug. 21 School Board meeting noting it was her last: &#8220;312 board meetings! Missed only 4. Nineteen years a teacher, 26 years administration &#8212; 45 years. Time to put away my ink pen.&#8221;In a money-saving move, for years Northwest Area has had an unusual arrangement, with Ellis handling day to day management and Lake-Lehman School District Superintendent Jim McGovern getting a stipend to serve as superintendent of record without wading into the management weeds. McGovern&#8217;s resignation of his position with Northwest (he remains at Lake-Lehman) was also accepted at the Aug. 21 meeting. The Northwest Area School board has launched a search for a new full-time superintendent.WB Area athleticsOther big changes include Wilkes-Barre Area&#8217;s consolidation of all athletic programs among the three high schools. Gone are the Meyers Mohawks, GAR Memorial Grenadiers and Coughlin Crusaders, replaced by the Wolfpack, complete with new colors, uniforms and mascot.Wilkes-Barre Area students must still wait an expected two years before the new consolidated high school in Plains Township opens, though it is well underway with foundations poured and walls rising. Opponents of the consolidation project have successfully convinced the state Auditor General to look into the project, and filed a three-inch thick complaint with the state Department of Education arguing PDE should also review the project. District officials consistently voice confidence the school will get a green light from both offices. Wilkes-Barre Area&#8217;s first day is Sept. 5.Dallas changesDallas School District students get two big changes that are tightly connected: the new Dallas Intermediate Center ribbon cutting is today, replacing the Dallas Elementary school. Grades are also being reconfigured, from two K-5 schools to Wycallis becoming a K-2 Primary Center and the new school housing 3-5.Dallas also switched food service vendors, re-signing with previous contractor Metz Culinary Management after a payment dispute with Southwest Food Service. And Superintendent Thomas Duffy said the district has revamped the middle school curriculum to incorporate more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) exposure, started a new autistic support program at Wycallis and implemented a new reading intervention program for all grades. Because of the new school, Dallas has the latest first day in the county: Sept. 9.WVW: Free mealsWyoming Valley West will offer free meals to all students after signing up for the federal Community Eligibility Project, which pays a district 1.6 times the amount needed to cover meals for all those certified eligible for the free lunch program. The move eliminates the problem of collecting payment for lunches, which became a major issue earlier this year when the district sent out a letter warning parents who didn&#8217;t pay could end up in dependency court. The letter sparked so much criticism the board and district issued apologies.The district replaced solicitor Charles Coslett, who resigned after the brouhaha, with Attorney Richard Goldberg at a meeting last week. Also at that meeting, Superintendent Irv DeRemer announced a &#8220;Structured Positive Feedback System&#8221; at State Street Elementary designed to decrease discipline problems and increase academic achievement. The district&#8217;s first day of classes is Aug. 27.Nanticoke transitionsGreater Nanticoke Area continues to expand efforts to help students transition from one school to another. This is the first year for a new transition program for those entering kindergarten. The district has also expanded some programs designed to aid those struggling with reading and math. And it has pushed the requirement of clear backpacks into the education center housing grades 6-8. The first day of school is Aug. 28.When they startCrestwood (1-12) &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Crestwood (Kindergarten) &#8212; Wednesday, Aug. 28Dallas &#8212; Monday, Sept. 9Diocese of Scranton Schools &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Greater Nanticoke Area (1-12) &#8212; Wednesday, Aug. 28Greater Nanticoke Area (Kindergarten) &#8212; Tuesday, Sept. 3Hanover Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Hazleton Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Lake-Lehman &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Northwest Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Pittston Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Wilkes-Barre Area &#8212; Thursday, Sept. 5Wyoming Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Wyoming Seminary &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Wyoming Valley West &#8212; Tuesday, Aug. 27<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Fifth and sixth grade math teacher Holly Zbysheski at Pittston Area&#8217;s Martin L. Mattei Middle school prepares her classroom last week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_BacktoSchool3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Fifth and sixth grade math teacher Holly Zbysheski at Pittston Area&#8217;s Martin L. Mattei Middle school prepares her classroom last week. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082519Backtoschool5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Students entering fifth grade at Martin L. Mattei middle school and their parents take a walk around the school to find the students&#8217; lockers. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082519Backtoschool5.jpg</photo1><caption1>Students entering fifth grade at Martin L. Mattei middle school and their parents take a walk around the school to find the students&#8217; lockers. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082519Backtoschool6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Martin L. Mattei Middle School Principal Patrick Bilbow talks with incoming fifth grade students and their parents. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082519Backtoschool6.jpg</photo2><caption2>Martin L. Mattei Middle School Principal Patrick Bilbow talks with incoming fifth grade students and their parents. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082519Backtoschool4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Addison Fetch, 10, prepares her locker for the first day of school at Pittston Area&#8217;s Martin L. Mattei Middle School during the 5th grade orientation day last week. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082519Backtoschool4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Addison Fetch, 10, prepares her locker for the first day of school at Pittston Area&#8217;s Martin L. Mattei Middle School during the 5th grade orientation day last week. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>New leaders, new schedules, new school: First days are here</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Mark Guydishmguydish@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>WHEN THEY STARTCrestwood (1-12) &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Crestwood (Kindergarten) &#8212; Wednesday, Aug. 28Dallas &#8212; Monday, Sept. 9Diocese of Scranton Schools &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Greater Nanticoke Area (1-12) &#8212; Wednesday, Aug. 28Greater Nanticoke Area (Kindergarten) &#8212; Tuesday, Sept. 3Hanover Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Hazleton Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Lake-Lehman &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Northwest Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Pittston Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Wilkes-Barre Area &#8212; Thursday, Sept. 5 Wyoming Area &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Wyoming Seminary &#8212; Monday, Aug. 26Wyoming Valley West &#8212; Tuesday, Aug. 27</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</shirttailMeta></div>