Napa Valley Cooking Schools

Like a venerable old professor, Murray County's Eton School has been around for decades.And like many old educators who have endured years of service, the school has, physically, seen better days. But the school has continued to fulfill its educational purpose over the years, most recently as the alternative school for Murray County students.Now, the building is seeing a bit of a renaissance. It is being given a new coat of paint, a new name and a new mission.Dubbed Mountain Creek Academy, the old schoolhouse will serve not only students who have been referred there for disciplinary reasons through a tribunal system, but also a small core of volunteer students who, it is expected, will prefer its intimacy over a mainstream classroom."These kids will be treated with great respect and love but also discipline," said Danny Harkleroad, the new principal.

Cafeteria workers hoping to fight outsourcing

After custodial workers were outsourced in Whitfield County Schools last year with little public outcry, county food services workers appear determined to not go as quietly into that good night.Employees of the school nutrition program and some of their supporters have written letters, hit message boards and made phone calls to the press since school administrators acknowledged they have developed paperwork seeking information from private vendors.And while administrators say the information search is merely exploratory, some food services workers say they were told at an Aug. 6 meeting that the decision has all but been made."The workers have basically been told, 'What goes on in the schools stays in the schools,' and to mind their own business," said one person close to the situation who requested to remain anonymous, fearing reprisals.

First day of school goes smoothly

Area students returned to school Monday to find renovated classrooms, new campuses and stricter dress codes and rules. Despite the many changes, the transition from summer vacation into the fall semester was fairly smooth, school districts reported. On their first day back, Galveston students experienced new bus routes and different schools. Door-to-door bus stops were eliminated, but the transition was smooth, said assistant superintendent Arnold Proctor.Students who went to Alamo Elementary School last year were assigned to different schools this year. Those students found out last year which school they would attend, so there was little confusion, said district spokeswoman Christine Hopkins.Galveston middle school students assigned to Austin Middle School were back in San Jacinto Elementary School on Monday until the new campus is finished Sept.