Cherokee County students in year-round schools return to school Thursday under much different circumstances than a couple days ago.

The Newberry County Sheriff's Office provided school resource officers temporarily at Luther Vaughan, Mary Bramlett and Alma elementaries this week.

Cherokee County Sheriff Bill Blanton arranged for the police officers from Newberry to provide extra security in preparation for the opening of year-round school at the three county schools, Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Bill James said.

"Sheriff Bill Blanton has been excellent. He has been very concerned for the safety of the staff and students in schools even in the midst of what was going on," James said. "We are very fortunate to have law enforcement in this community who are so supportive of our school system. Any time there is a crisis Bill Blanton, (Gaffney Police Chief) Rick Turner and (Blacksburg Police Chief) Jamie Ham have always been available to advise the school district on what we should do."

The school resource officers returned home to Newberry following Monday's announcement police shot and killed the Cherokee County serial killer in Gaston County, N.C.

Local law enforcement officers will be available to help ease parents concerns about sending their children back to school in Cherokee County.

"It felt good to have a police officer at our school this week," Mary Bramlett Elementary Principal Dr. Tom Abbott said. "We had some concerned parents who came to check out the school. Hopefully, this will bring things to a conclusion."

Students at Luther Vaughan, Mary Bramlett and Alma elementaries begin classes Thursday at 8 a.m. following a month of summer vacation.

The year-round schools have scheduled intersession breaks during the year so teachers can work individually with students to address academic problems.

The biggest challenge for the year-round schools is often convincing parents to send their children to school on the first day. Some parents choose to withhold their students from class until traditional school starts in mid-August.

Luther Vaughan Elementary Principal Dr. Ron Cope said a long absence from school can have a negative impact on a student's academic performance and whether a student is promoted to the next grade level.