Breckenridge Texan

Following the elementary Meet the Teacher events on Tuesday, as well as back-to-school activities at the high school and junior high earlier this week, the Breckenridge Independent School District is ready for classes to start on Thursday morning, Aug. 15.

Jimi Cantrell (center) and her mother Nichole Cantrell pose with kindergarten teacher Latisha Bartley during meet the teacher at East Elementary. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

School zones around each school will be in effect, and drivers need to be aware of the school buses that will be out around town and in the county, picking up and dropping off kids.

State law requires that drivers stop when a bus is stopped and operating a visual signal – either red flashing lights or a stop sign, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety website. Drivers should not proceed until the school bus resumes motion, the driver is signaled by the bus driver to proceed, or the visual signal is no longer activated. Approaching drivers do not have to stop for a school bus that is operating a visual signal if the roadway is separated by a physical barrier or an intervening space. (If a highway is divided only by a left-turning lane, the roadways are not considered separated, and drivers must stop for school buses.)

Drivers who illegally pass school buses face fines up to $1,250 for the first offense, a DPS news release states. For individuals convicted of the offense more than once, the law allows the individual’s driver license to be suspended for up to six months. (A ticket for illegally passing a school bus cannot be dismissed through defensive driving.) Additionally, the offense could potentially include criminal charges if they cause serious bodily injury to another, according to the DPS.

Breckenridge High School has made some changes to parking and drop-off areas. Click here to visit the BHS Facebook page to see a map and instructions for where to park.

Additionally, North Elementary has changed the second grade drop off. Click here to see a map of the drop-off plan.

For a map of South Elementary’s after school pick-up process, click here.

East Elementary first grade teacher Deborah Gonzales goes over papers with with one of her incoming students, Kailey Ledesma, during Meet the Teacher Night. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

East Elementary School has a “Happy First Day of School” sign out to welcome students. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Pre-K student Emallee Wehunt, 4, poses for a photo taken by her teacher, Donna Wade, while East Elementary Paraprofessional Rosie Hernandez holds the frame during Meet the Teacher at East Elementary. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)