Matlock campus is a lot smoother

Mary M. Knight School District students returned to school Wednesday to find a much smoother campus.

During the summer, Granite Construction employees replaced the gravel driveways and parking lots for the two Matlock schools with 3 inches of asphalt. The lots offer angled parking, handicapped parking and ramps into the schools. Drainage links were re-established during the $630,000 project.

"You don't have to go through mud puddles and potholes to get to the high school," said Superintendent Matt Mallery. The asphalt provides a better surface for emergency vehicles and a fire wall, if needed, he said.

"People who drive by are amazed at how nice it is," said Mallery, who is beginning his fourth school year at the helm.

The district budgeted for 160 students in prekindergarten through the 12th grade. The district ended the last school year with 165 students.

Mallery said the student population fluctuates during the year, with some youths moving into the district to live with relatives.

"We have more mobility," he said. "We have kids who come in and leave during the school year."

The district begins the school year with three new teachers: kindergarten, special needs and secondary school math.

The district is beefing up its early learning program, and offers four days of preschool each week, Mallery said. Another focus is increasing the time for intervention for reading and math difficulties for students in all grades, he said.

Face masks are optional and are available to students and staff, "and we fully support them in that," Mallery said. COVID testing kits are also available.

Free lunches are provided to all students.

Winter break begins Dec. 19.