School is in session once again for students in Visalia

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- The first day of school at Mineral King Elementary is over. Leslie Manzo says her now sixth grader couldn't wait for the day to start.

Leslie Manzo said, "He was so excited he woke up and was ready at 6:20 in the morning."

28,000 students went back to Visalia Unified classrooms Thursday. Superintendent Dr. Craig Wheaton was busy all day. He visited 15 of the district's 40 schools to make sure everything was going smoothly.

Wheaton said, "I would say this is one of the smoothest starts that I've seen."

This year the district hired 150 new teachers over the summer break. Many of them brand new to teaching.

Wheaton said, "We've got people that have fresh eyes that are brand new we've got people who are experienced, you bring those two things together whether a teacher or an administrator it's going to be the best possible program for our kids."

Some of the schools had physical upgrades over the summer. Redwood High opened a brand new 16-classroom building on campus. Back at Mineral King a new security fence was installed.

Manzo added, "They've made a lot of improvements."

But there's one thing that never changes about the first day of school -- the massive line of eager parents waiting to hear all about that first day.