Smooth start of school, with maybe a bump in enrollment

It’s the first week back to school for students in the Webb City R-7 School District – and their superintendent in his new position.

Superintendent Brenten Byrd has been promoted by the School Board from assistant superintendent to succeed Tony Rossetti upon his retirement.

Once a student himself in the district, Byrd says it’s nice to see the “kids are excited and smiling.”

He reports some normal busing glitches, but still all children were home by 4:30 p.m. on the first day.

The first-day count of students has come in at 4,600, which Byrd says “may be up just a little bit” from last year.