Over 150 teachers, administrators and support staff gathered in the Marge Alakszay building to officially convene the 2014-15 school year at Lakeport Unified School District.

Superintendent, Erin Smith-Hagberg, has convened the annual Back-to-School event for the last 10 years to ensure a unified vision and spirit for the new school year.  LUSD administrators introduced 25 new staff members this year.  According to Smith-Hagberg, this number exceeds the typical number of new employees the district welcomes each year. "LUSD has seen tremendous stability in our teaching and support staff over the past years, a testament to the commitment of our team and the positive work environment at our schools. This year we saw a record number of retiring employees, along with the addition of new programs and services for students. This brings an ideal balance of tradition and stability, combined with inspiration and fresh energy."

Schools are open for the 2014-15 academic year throughout most of Lake County. The first week of school conjures up images of backpacks stuffed with brand-new school supplies, bulletin boards freshly decorated by teachers, and excited young faces eager to learn. But even in the early days of each new school year, some students will inevitably head toward academic trouble for one simple reason -- they miss too many days of instruction. One missed day here turns into another there, then another and another.

Across the country, as many as 7.5 million students miss nearly a month of school every year -- absences that can correlate with poor performance at every grade level. This trend starts as early as kindergarten and continues through high school, contributing to achievement gaps and ultimately to increased dropout rates.

The Lake County Superintendent of Schools, in conjunction with the California State Senate and the California Assembly, is recognizing September as Attendance Awareness Month. This movement is part of a nationwide initiative intended to convey the message that every school day counts. 

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An accredited public school serving students in kindergarten through twelfth-grade is a description that is not out of the ordinary for a typical school. But put that school online with live classrooms, student group sessions and tutoring hours and you've a got a state-funded and regulated education with some virtual flexibility.

The California Connections Academy @ North Bay is bringing a newer style of education to students of Lake, Colusa, Glenn, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties this year. It is under the authority of Middletown Unified School District. For students ahead, behind or in need of a different schedule, the online school began classes Sept. 2. Leslie Dombek, the school's site administrator, said the school is anticipating serving 150 students throughout the North Bay counties with seven certified teachers this year; 13 of those students are Lake County residents. Read the full article