As backpacks, pencil cases and graphing calculators pop up in store aisles, signaling the countdown to the start of school, I thought you'd be interested in a few goals that Montgomery County has planned for the coming year.

According to the school system's comprehensive plan unveiled at the school board's retreat earlier this month, the year should be spent examining ways to enhance students' options. The school system hopes to:

Increase enrollment options in alternative programs, such as Rivendell and summer academy.

Explore adding a new preschool.

Look at the need for a virtual high school.

Develop a plan for keyboarding and technology lessons in elementary schools.

Conduct a study on expanding dual enrollment and Advanced Placement offerings.

Look at ways to increase student time in classes.

Expand GED and adult education classes.

Add training for student teachers in partnership with universities.

The comprehensive plan, which has been in the works since 2007, looks ahead through the year 2014 in all areas, including curriculum, staff development and technology

Child care center looks to open facility in the CRC

Blacksburg's Rainbow Riders Childcare Center has asked Blacksburg Town Council to speed up the special use permit process so the day care can open a new center at 1800 Ramble Road in Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center.

A date for a public hearing on the permit and a formal lease agreement for land still must be finalized.

The day care would help alleviate a more-than-1,000-child waiting list at the center, said Kristi Snyder, the day care's administrator.

The goal is to open the center, which would serve about 200 children, by August 2009. It would not just serve children of CRC employees, Snyder said.

Blacksburg student attends conference

Blacksburg High student Laura Rudd was one of the 2,300 Future Farmers of America members to attend the National FFA's Washington Leadership Conference in the Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The five-day event trained FFA members to make a positive impact in their communities.

Anna L. Mallory covers events and issues affecting Montgomery County schools and beyond. If you have information you'd like featured, e-mail anna.mallory@roanoke.com.