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Youngsters returned to school Wednesday for the 2026-27 school year at USD 257.

By TIM STAUFFER, REGISTER MANAGING EDITOR

August 12, 2026 - 4:13 PM

At left, Paisley Ferraro hugs little brother Dakota goodbye Wednesday morning outside Iola Elementary School as mother Valorie Ferraro, left, and Brian Moore look on. Paisley is now officially a big kid – she’s in first grade! Dyson Boudreaux, center, age 10, is all smiles before his first day of fifth grade Wednesday morning. At left, little brother Kobyne, age 6, is all set to begin kindergarten. Proud dad Donald Bourdreaux is at right. Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola Register

Iola Elementary School students, as well as Iola Middle School sixth-graders and ninth-graders at Iola High School, returned to class Wednesday to mark the start of the 2026-27 school year.

The upperclassmen at IMS and IHS got an extra day of summer vacation, but are slated to return on Thursday.

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