For the first time in months, the halls of Dowagiac Union Schools’ six buildings were alive with the sounds of chatter, laughter and footsteps, as local children returned to class for the beginning of the new school year.

Like many other communities in southwest Michigan, the fall semester for the Dowagiac district began on Tuesday, following the long Labor Day weekend. Joining new and returning K-12 students were teachers, staff and administrators, who also resumed their usual school year activities following summer break.

As per tradition, the district’s Superintendent Paul Hartsig, along with Deputy Superintendent Dawn Connor and other senior administers, toured each of the district’s school buildings this morning, getting a firsthand look at the operations as students began to shuffle back to their classrooms for the first time this season.

“Things are going really well,” Hartsig said. “The kids are excited, and little nervous as well.”

While the district won’t have a solid figure on enrollment until at least Friday, the superintendent is optimistic that the numbers will improve on last year’s, Hartsig said.

“So far, it sounds like we’re registering a number of new kids, so we’re happy about that,” he said.

The district enters the new school year with a lot of momentum, based off the successes they experienced last year, which was Hartsig’s first year as head of Union Schools. These highlights included Patrick Hamilton and Sister Lakes elementary schools receiving high distinctions from the state department of education last fall, as well as the high school’s victory in the Battle of the Fans contest in February.

As the superintendent enters his sophomore year, he and his administration have a lot on their plate as well — including the pair of bond proposals that will be up for vote in November.

District leaders have already been out pitching the public on their plan, which, if passed, would raise nearly $40 million worth of improvements for the high school and elementary school buildings. Hartsig had discussed the proposals with local parents last week during the open house at Kincheloe Elementary, and plans on doing so at this week’s other events at the elementary buildings and at Union High School.

So far, the response from potential voters has been strong, Hartsig said.

“The community recognizes the needs the district has, and they recognize we’ve been good stewards of the finances they’ve entrusted us to work with,” Hartsig said. “It’s led to a really good, positive feeling about the campaign.”

District residents are invited to another public meeting about the bonds, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Dowagiac Middle School.

Another major project the district has undertaken during the summer, the extension of Riverside Drive outside the middle school, is entering the final steps of construction, Hartsig said. Right now, the roadway, which will extend the previous dead end roadway to nearby Mathews Street, is ready for pavement. The work is expected to begin within the next couple of weeks, following the completion of the waterline extension into the nearby Pokagon housing community.

Despite the work ahead, school leaders, educators and staff appear to be fired up for the new school year, based off the enthusiasm they displayed during last week’s professional development sessions, Hartsig said.

“I think the morale is really high, the expectations are really high, and I know we’re going to do some great things this year,” Hartsig said. “I’m excited.”