Lynchburg, VA - In a week and a half roughly 8,000 students will pour into schools across the city of Lynchburg for the first day of classes.
But maintenance crews began preparing the buildings months ago. At E.C. Glass, they're working hard to meet the deadline.
New teachers are arriving Wednesday and the largest school in the city needs to be ready.
For hours, William Lee pushes a wet mop down the narrow hallway.
"Sometimes it can be stressful," Lee says of the custodial work.
"Sometimes they act like they don't know how to read," he adds, pointing to a 'Wet Paint' sign nearby.
At the school's gym, contractors are pulling blue tape off the basketball court, repainting lines and finishing the floor.
At the Main Office, students' schedules are printing. Guidance counselors arrived Monday to help students register for classes.
"We've been going hot and heavy trying to make sure everyone has a schedule," explained Betsy Ballowe, Director of Counseling.
It takes about two months for custodians to get the entire school ready for that fresh-faced, first day, feeling.
"We redid ourselves. We're bright and shiny and ready for students when they come in," said Rob Quel, Associate Principal of E.C. Glass High School.
