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Principal Joe Yeager said Thursday that faculty and staff members are excited and eager to begin Northern High School's inaugural academic year.

Late last week, they began moving into Northern's portable classrooms at Northeast and Northwest high schools, while district workers installed computer terminals and phone services.

Classes will be held at both locations through January, when Northern's campus is expected to open. The school will occupy eight portables at Northeast and 16 at Northwest, most of which were used by Northern Middle before it opened earlier this year.

Because there are only three science labs between the campuses, some courses will be delayed until the spring.

Although lack of space will cause some issues, it's a lack of interest that has caused some courses such as creative writing, speech and debate to be delayed until next year.

Students in some specialty courses, such as drafting, will take classes at their campus' host school, where all students will also eat lunch.

"We are working on core curriculum and focusing on getting kids ready for college," Yeager said.

The school projects 450 to 500 freshmen and sophomores this year with just over 20 teachers.

Enrollment is expected to significantly increase as students transfer to Northern next fall, after the new campus opens and with the start of junior-level classes, Yeager said.

With so few teachers, most will split their days teaching at both campuses throughout the fall.

Yeager said he has been surprised at how smoothly the athletics program has come together, given the many challenges of forming teams with a small student body, obtaining equipment, setting schedules and finding places to practice and play.

He said 50 students tried out for the football team this year, which will play a junior varsity schedule.

"I think we have been very fortunate. I'm extremely pleased with the quality of our coaching staff from our athletic director down," Yeager said. "We are going to have an outstanding athletics program."

The football team will play home games at Kernodle Middle. Basketball and volleyball teams will begin the year sharing courts at Northern Middle before moving into the high school for the second half of the schedule.

Latest reports put Northern's construction on schedule. Yeager said tentative plans are to move in over winter break.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7157 or rseals@news-record.com