Back to School Guide: Fall River Public Schools

SCHOOL DISTRICT: Fall River.

START DATE: Aug. 29.

WHAT’S NEW: Classes begin earlier this year. It should allow the school year to end earlier in June.

Durfee High School has a new science room. It was rebuilt after a pipe burst last spring, flooding the rooms.

Programs to help students who are still learning English will be expanded to six elementary schools.

WHO IS NEW: Two new principals: Vanessa Reale at the Letourneau School, Patrick Lenz at the Silvia School. Brian Raposo, formerly the principal at Letourneau, moved to Talbot.

Ann Dargon is a new assistant superintendent. Cynthia Couto the director of the parent information center.

WHAT FAMILIES SHOULD KNOW: Teachers will enlist parents to make sure their children are in class.

“A key issue for us will be absenteeism,” said Superintendent Matthew Malone. “You will see us being much more aggressive on this. Kids need to be in class every single day. We need to make sure parents understand the importance of this. Kids can’t learn if they aren’t in school.”