There is a lot of uneasiness among some who have children attending schools in the Warren County School District this year.

The closure of two high schools creates new routines for students and their parents who have been used to the familiar rhythms of Sheffield and Youngsville high schools. Those rhythms will be different this year, but eventually everyone will settle in. Children typically are more resilient than adults think they are.

A lot of promises were made over the past year as the community went through the closure process of Youngsville and Sheffield high schools. We are sure there will be bumps in the road. It will take parents and school administrators working together to resolve them.

Rather than approach the start of school with trepidation, we hope this is an exciting time for teachers and students – particularly those who are attending or working in new school buildings. It’s a fresh start for those teachers and students, while the start of the school year is a time of promise for all students. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a high school student taking advantage of new courses that may help prepare you for college or the job market or a kindergartner stepping off a school bus for the first time, the 2025-26 school year is a story that is yet to be written. Every new school year begins with promise for students and families and with promises made by school officials.

We hope both are realized this year.