JACKSON, MI — There were lots of smiles and hugs. And a few tears.
It is the first day of school in Jackson County and districts across the area welcomed back students for a new year on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
It was a bittersweet day at Parma Elementary School as this will be last first day for the school.
A new district-wide elementary school will welcome students from Parma, Bean and Warner elementaries in January, Western Schools Superintendent Michael Smajda said.
“These buildings have been in our community for over 75 years,” Smajda said. “They have been wonderful resources for the district but with the aging facilities and the infrastructure, it just doesn’t make sense to maintain them anymore.”
Parma Elementary principal Sue Haney greeted students and parents with high fives and