MONROE, NC (WBTV) -
Union County students won't be the only ones with first day of school jitters when they return to class.
"Every year for 34 years the night that teachers go back to school and the night before children go back to school I can't sleep," said Dr. Mary Ellis the Superintendent Union County Public Schools.
2011 budget cuts made last year a rough one.
Dr. Ellis is excited to welcome teachers back for a new year with new teacher assistants.
"We offered contract backs to approximately 350."
And her district goals are very clear.
"If my child was one of the 10 percent who did not graduate I would be concerned," said Dr. Ellis.
"So we are still working to improve that."
Along with more staff in the classroom, Dr. Ellis says students can also expect a shift in curriculum.
"It's called the common core curricula and the North Carolina central standards," said Dr. Ellis.
"North Carolina has joined with other states in the US to have a common curriculum that all states are teaching the same thing."
A recently approved budget has also helped upgrade many classroom and turned them into a hi-tech study hall.
"In September we are going to be rolling out our 9th grade technology and every 9th grader will have a laptop computer," said Dr. Ellis.
"We are also in the working phases of our 10, 11th and 12 possibly bring your own device."
Ellis says Union county is ready and the kids should be "be ready to learn," Dr Ellis added.
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