First Day Of School In Cheyenne Is Wednesday

The first day of the 2016-2017 school year in Laramie County School District#1 is Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Superintendent John Lyttle said recently the district is expecting an increase in enrollment, although the exact numbers won't be available until about 10 days after the start of the school year.

While most districts in the state are expecting decreases in enrollment due to a slumping state economy, Laramie County, which is less dependent on the energy sector than most areas of the state, has been somewhat insulated from the downturn.

The county's unemployment rate in July was 4 percent, compared to a statewide rate of 5.7 percent last month.

Cheyenne Police Department spokesman Dan Long says police will be out in force on Wednesday watching for traffic violations near schools.

People who illegally pass a school bus when it has it's red lights flashing are liable for a $400 fine. All school buses are now equipped with cameras to catch people who illegally pass the buses, and tickets are written for motorists based on the camera recordings.

Police will also be watching for drivers who violate the 20 mph speed limit in school zones. Violators are liable for fines of up to $360.

Meanwhile Stephanie Heitsch of Safe Kids Wyoming is reminding parents to make sure their children follow the rules for getting on and off the bus safely, and that they use crosswalks when entering or leaving school zones rather than darting out into traffic.

Heitsch says school buses are safer for passengers than typical family vehicles, adding the vast majority of injuries to kids who ride the bus happen either before or after the bus ride.

She says because of the way school buses are compartmentalized even head on collisions with cars usually don't result in serious injuries to bus passengers.