PLANTATION, FLA. (WSVN) – Class was officially back in session for hundreds of thousands of Broward County students, and some big changes awaited them on campus this school year.<\/p>\n
The first day of school was an exciting occasion for more than 220,000 Broward County Public Schools students who just wrapped up their summer vacations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited, I\u2019m not worried at all. All of our teachers are nice,\u201d said student Daniella Collazo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best thing about the first day of school is mainly seeing my friends and seeing all my old teachers,\u201d said student Aiden Forbes.<\/p>\n
7News spent Monday morning at Hallandale Magnet High School in Hallandale Beach speaking with BCPS Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn about the changes coming to this and other schools across the district.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been preparing for this all summer, for the return of our students,\u201d said Hepburn.<\/p>\n
The superintendent spoke at Central West Transportation Terminal in Davie, early Monday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hopes for students is that they continue to have the best learning opportunities possible,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hepburn then visited Hallandale Magnet High School, which is debuting a four-day school week for the first time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really happy, but I know it\u2019s going to be long hours, and I know it\u2019s going to take a lot out of me, but I still get Fridays off,\u201d said 11th grade student Tariyah Knowles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve heard a lot of positive things from our students who are here, the four-day-a-week schooling and then Fridays off, and many of the students have plans on how they\u2019re going to utilize the Fridays,\u201d said Hepburn.<\/p>\n
The superintendent\u2019s visit comes as students and teachers expressed what they are looking forward to this school year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been here for 24 years; this is my 27th year teaching,\u201d said Kristin Kavanaugh, who works at Silver Palms Elementary.<\/p>\n