Korahlin Dunnigan is all smiles Wednesday as she gets off the bus following her first day in first grade at South Butler Primary School.

JEFFERSON TWP — Unlike last year, the first day of school in the South Butler School District was not tinged with the tension of a festering contract stalemate.

The district and its teachers settled a contract in June, after a strike that followed many intense school board meetings and negotiating sessions throughout the previous school year.

But that situation was no longer a worry on Wednesday.

“Everything went well,” said David Foley, district superintendent. “The kids were on time, they got off the buses smiling and the teachers were welcoming them.”

Foley said the first-day atmosphere was a little lighter without the elephant in the room.

“It's a great time in our district and we are at a great point where we are ready to move forward,” he said.

A contract with the district's custodians also was recently settled, and the secretaries' contract is expected to be signed in the near future.

“As an administration group, we're really considering different ways to strengthen our culture and bring us back together,” Foley said.

While he said Wednesday's first day of school was similar to last year's because the district's teachers are singularly focused on the students' education regardless of their contract situation, music teacher and union President Ian Babb admitted it was a relief to start school with a contract.

“It's always nice to be back and not have that looming over your head,” he said, “but it was a limited factor when it comes to the dedication of the teachers to their students.”

He said the first day is always magical.

“It's a really fun and exciting day,” Babb said. “It's been wonderful.”

He said in the primary school, where part of his time is spent, the normal issues associated with the district's youngest students occur each year.

“The biggest issues and concerns are the children are nervous to come to school,” Babb said.

He said new kindergartners sometimes have trouble separating from mom or dad, and the first graders struggle with a full day of school. But the teachers are accustomed to the situation and deal with it every year.

“The staff was well-prepared to welcome them back,” Babb said.

He said the teachers will now get down to the task of education on all grade levels.

“We want to welcome the students back as if there was no time off,” he said.