Eighth graders at Smith Middle School joined students across Chapel Hill – Carrboro and the rest of North Carolina shuffling to class on the first day of school on Monday.

Almost everything is new for these Smith Middle students. Beyond normal things like new classes and a new homeroom, they also have a new superintendent and principal – and it was their first day of school too.

“Today is actually good. It actually is what feels like normal for the first time,” said Stephon Goode. This summer, he accepted a position as interim principal at Smith Middle.

Goode had been the assistant principal at Smith Middle for two years, and taught at Estes Hills Elementary before that. He says, so far, there’s a lot that’s familiar in his new position, but there’s also a lot that’s different.

“It is a different role. You know, again, I’ve been tied to a grade level, now I’m tied to every grade level.”

Dr. Jim Causby has also had to get used to a new role as interim superintendent for Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools. He says though, that he chalks up his first school day as a success.

“Things so far have been going very well this morning, we were a little concerned about bus routes because we’ve totally redone them, but so far everything looks very good and very smooth.”

Not everything in the district went smoothly Monday morning, however. Estes Hills Elementary School lost power and had to close and send students home at 11:00.

But besides a few hiccups, Causby says he can tell it’s going to be a great year.

“The first thing that really stands out to me is the quality of the folks who are here. I mean that’s as good as I’ve seen anywhere. And I’ve worked in a number of superintendencies and consulted all across the country. This staff is as good as I’ve seen anywhere.”

An evaluation period is going on right now for replacement to fill the superintendent role. The Board of Education hopes to have a new superintendent in place by January.

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