Lots of preparations have been made to get ready for the upcoming school year. At West Elementary, Principal Mike Montgomery says that they now have motion-sensor lights. There are new items in the playground as well as resurfaced asphalt. Montgomery comments that everyone’s very excited to get the year underway. The first day of school in Knoxville is next Monday; Twin Cedars and Melcher-Dallas start Thursday, while Pleasantville starts next Tuesday, the 23rd.