KEENE, NH – Students around the Monadnock Region are heading back to the classroom this week.

Keene State College students moved in last week and began classes on Monday, while students out at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge moved in over the weekend and begin classes on Tuesday.

The majority of local school districts will have their first day of school on Wednesday, August 30th. That includes all of SAU 29, the Monadnock Regional School District, the Hinsdale School District, ConVal, Fall Mountain, the Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District, and the Winchester School District.

Drivers should be alert for kids walking to and from school or waiting at bus stops. New Hampshire law (265:54) requires a driver stop their vehicle at least 25 feet away from a school bus when it stops to pick up or drop students off, both in front of and behind it. Drivers cannot proceed until the bus resumes motion and the red flashing lights have turned off. The school bus driver will pull over in a safe location to allow cars to pass if a line of five or more has gathered behind the bus.

Drivers who are found to have violated state law will be subject to a fine of $150 and penalties for a first offense, and $250-$1,000 and a license suspension for subsequent offenses. Drivers can also face fines, penalties, and license suspension for passing or overtaking a school bus on the right.

If you meet a school bus coming the other way on a divided highway with separate roadways, traffic on the opposite side from the bus can continue without stopping.

SAU 29 Superintendent Robb Malay joined WKBK Tuesday morning to discuss the upcoming school year across all of his districts, including new standards regarding competency-based education for grade-school students. The full discussion is available here.