Some students arrived early at Southwest Middle School Tuesday to talk and take a few pictures with friends before starting the first day of the 2009-10 school year. This is just the first of about 175 days of the 2009-10 school year.

Other students waited outside the school for buses to take them to other elementary schools in town.

Third-grader Rebecca Mickelson waited on a transfer bus to go to Lakeview Elementary School. While she said she was happy to start school, she said she was lonely because a friend wasn’t riding the bus today. She’s excited to start the year in a new class with new responsibilities.

“At my class, I get to switch rooms,” she said.

Seventh-grader Sam Thompson was a little nervous for his first day at Southwest, but he said he was excited for his first football game next week.

About 3,243 students will be enrolled in the seven schools this year, with more than 400 at each of the elementary schools and Southwest Middle School, 1,034 at Albert Lea High School and 87 at Brookside Education Center.

“I think we’re in real good shape. Our enrollment is up a little bit. … That’s always a real good thing when we have some more students coming in,” Superintendant Michael Funk said.

To replace retired teachers, Funk said about 19 new teachers have been hired.

Funk will oversee his first opening to the school year as Albert Lea superintendent. Funk said he’s looked forward the first day, and he will go to all of the schools on the first day. He said he looks forward to meeting with all the staff in coming weeks to discuss education in Albert Lea.

Funk said there were some changes made to schools this summer, including new special education rooms at Sibley Elementary School and Hawthorne Elementary School, and a roof project at Lakeview Elementary School.

Funk has met with administrators to talk about expectations and different things. About halfway into the year, Funk said he’ll present his framework for future success to the school board.

Sibley Elemetary School sixth-grade teacher Amy Skinness said she’s looking forward to getting to know her 27 new students. In the first weeks of class, she’ll lead discussions and do things to learn about her students and help make them comfortable.

“It’s actually hard because everything is brand new. They’re brand new to my room, and I don’t know them very well yet,” Skinness said.

That means it’s important to explain her expectations and get to know her students. She said one of those expectations includes respect.

At the same time, she described the mood on the first day of school as exciting, but she also said she’s looking forward to getting into the routine of the year.

“I think my favorite time of the school year is probably now in the fall after that first month. You kind of get into your routine, know what to expect,” Skinness said.

Halverson Elementary School: 416

Sibley Elementary School: 411

Hawthorne Elementary School: 426

Lakeview Elementary School: 409

Southwest Middle School 460

Albert Lea High School 1,034

Brookside Learning Center: 87

Max Jeffrey, a computer teacher at Southwest, described the first day atmosphere as energetic.

“As a whole, I think the staff is looking forward to getting started,” Jeffrey said. “We’ve put in seven days of school workshops, and I think we’re exited to see the students arrive. I think we’re ready.”

The schools have upgraded software to Microsoft Office 2007, and he’ll work to introduce the students to that program.

With the new students learning their way around the building, Jeffrey said there will be some nervous energy.

“At Southwest you get a new group of seventh-graders, which are the students you’ve never seen before, which is kind of always exciting. You get to meet new students and learn things about them,” Jeffrey said. “Then the kids that return, you get to learn what they did over the summer.”

Jeffrey said it’s fun to see those students mature and become the leaders of the school.

Albert Lea High School librarian Carol Frydenlund worked last week to prepare the library for students, and she said she was excited for students to come on the first day.

“It’s really neat to have a new beginning each fall,” Frydenlund said.