NEW BERLIN – As this year’s summer vacation comes to a close, the Unadilla Valley School District prepares to welcome students and teachers back next week with new events as another school year begins.

With the first day of school falling on next Wednesday, September 5, Unadilla Valley School District officials said they believe new staff and programing will help to make this school year another successful one.

“We’ve welcomed in a new administrator to our administrative team, her name is Julia Wick, and she is our Early College Highschool Director, which is a brand new position dedicated towards helping students find a college to meet their needs,” said Unadilla Valley District Clerk Valerie Doliver.

According to Doliver, the position and programming with it was made possible through a grant for just over $700,000.

The school released a statement on the program and said, “Unadilla Valley has been awarded the Smart Scholars Early College High School grant from the New York State Education Department totaling over $700,000 to expand college course offerings and career pathways for students.”