City leaders greet students on first day of school - WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather & Sports

City leaders greet students on first day of school

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By Taylor Barnhill  - bio | email 

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) -  33,000 school aged children headed back to the classroom Monday for the first day of school in Muscogee County and as some very special guests joined them at school this morning.

As if the first day of school isn't exciting enough, imagine walking in to see the mayor or your local congressman greeting you at the door.

"I had to be here to see all the hustle and bustle, the new people coming in. It's a very exciting day!" said Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson.

Students all over Muscogee County had that pleasure Monday morning as city leaders took part in "Be There on the Bus".

Mayor Tomlinson told News Leader 9, "Somewhere in this school we have a future mayor, somewhere in this school we have a future firefighter, and somewhere in here we have a future teacher. These are our leaders and so we have to be here to encourage them, to explain why education is so important and to encourage them to stay in school."

Congressman Sanford Bishop added, "We want them to be the best and do the best because they are our future. They make up 40% of the population but they are 100% of our future. We encourage them because we are depending on them."

Seeing their local leaders certainly gave kids something to smile about at the start of their new year.

"There's been a lot of excitement but I don't know if that has to do with the leaders that are here or just the fact that it's the first day," said Tomlinson.

Copyright 2011 WTVM. All rights reserved.

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