Many students in school districts across our region will start classes for the 2012 academic year today. The Syracuse City School District will begin its class schedule today, while many other districts will begin later this week. Our Brad Vivacqua reports from the First Student Bus Garage in Syracuse where the superintendent will visit this morning.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK -- First and foremost, we all need to be vigilant that students and buses are back on the roads this week as another school year is about to begin. You're reminded to slow down and be on the lookout for students crossing the street and for buses that are making stops.

As for the Syracuse City School District, classes will be resuming today, and Superintendent Sharon Contreras will be joined by other school officials as she makes visits to a number of facilities.

Contreras will begin her day at the First Student Bus Garage, where she will meet and greet bus drivers and aides before they head out on their routes. Later this morning, the superintendent will be joined by New York State Education Commissioner John King and other officials as she visits four schools in the district, including the newly redesigned Institute of Technology.

Contreras started off her first academic year as superintendent last year in the same way as she made her rounds to several different facilities. She told us last year that it was important to let school staff know how important they really are.

Contreras recently unveiled a five year plan called Great Expectations, which highlights goals to help the district become the most improved urban district in the country. One of the areas is helping students continue to improve on standardized math and English testing.