ROCKFORD, Ill. (WREX) — Thursday marked the first day of the 2025-2026 for Rockford Public Schools, with thousands of students returning and kids flooding the hallways of the dozens of schools around the region after a shorter than usual summer.

Despite past issues with staffing, educators at Spring Creek Elementary School said they have only two open positions as of now and that although the summer may have been different, Thursday brought kids ready to jump back into the classroom.

"The first day of school's been amazing. Hallways are buzzing. It's great to have students back in the building again. Teachers come back feeling refreshed and ready to go. Their classrooms are beautiful. The air conditioning is pumping and it's been a really great day," Spring Creek Elementary School princi

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