Gene Kolczynski earned his teaching degree in 1974, but became a teacher just two years ago.

A local business owner, Kolczynski, 55, spent the past two years as marketing teacher and DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) adviser at Kent-Meridian High School in Kent.

Tuesday marks his first day of class as a teacher in Renton School District. His position? Marketing and business law teacher and DECA adviser at Lindbergh High School.

“I am very excited,” Kolczynski says of his move to Renton. “It’s hard to put into words, but I kind of have the enthusiasm of a new teacher with the experience of someone who’s been out in the business world a long time. It’s a good combination.”

Kolczynski and his wife Natalie operate

the printing company North Coast Busi-

ness Forms out of their Issaquah home,

as they have for the past 25 years.

The couple lived in Renton when their children were young. Kolczynski has spent 24 years in Rotary Club of Renton.

“I just had so many business acquaintances in Renton,” Kolczynski says. “All my adult life I’ve done extensive volunteer work here, so it’s natural for me to come back here and teach.”

Kolczynski’s job is teaching five classes: two marketing and one advanced marketing, business law and a marketing seminar. DECA adviser is part of the job. He will teach about 150 students. He takes the position over from the retired Yetta Rouse.

“It’s a very established program I’m coming to,” Kolczynski says. “My challenge is to continue the work the previous teacher did and add my own spin to things.”

Kolczynski joins the more than 160 teachers, principals and administrators new this school year. Renton School District has about 1,600 employees this year. About half of the teachers are new to education and more than 70 are new to Renton. Some are returning to Renton after teaching at other districts, others are from far-away places including England, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon and Texas.

About 150 new students enter the district this year, increasing the student population to about 13,550.

Some elementary schools sent welcoming committees to area neighborhoods. Tiffany Park staff brought backpacks stuffed with school supplies to a nearby apartment complex, and Bryn Mawr staff planned to do the same.

In addition to presenting a friendly face to parents and students, the welcome visits provide a reminder that Tuesday is the first day of school in Renton School District, not Wednesday like Seattle School District.

Despite rising gas prices, Renton students will have the same transportation options as last year. Buses are provided for students living more than a mile from school. That may change if gas prices continue to rise, says district spokesperson Randy Matheson.

To cut gas expenses, Matheson says the district is continuing to scale back bus transportation of 11th and 12th graders to sporting events.

No major curriculum changes are occurring this year, Matheson says. But Renton School District is participating in Virtual High School this year. The district is paying for this participation through money from the recently approved six-year, $33-million School Technology Levy. The program offers students online courses taught by state-certified teachers.

As for improvement efforts, the district will continue its use of five school-improvement facilitators, and also begin participation in a more intense, longer-term improvement initiative this fall, called The Summit Project. The state will pay for professionals to evaluate Renton’s classes, staff and programs and then create a detailed improvement plan, to be implemented over the next three to five years. Renton joins four much smaller districts that have already begun participation in this pilot program.

Late-start Fridays will continue on 30 Fridays this year, starting on Sept. 5, the first Friday of the year. The 90-minute late starts provide time for staff and teacher training and collaboration.

So, with some changes and some continuations, another school year is about to begin.

“We are looking forward to it,” Matheson says of district staff.

So is Gene Kolczynski.

“It’s just great to be back in Renton,” he says.

Emily Garland can be reached at emily.garland@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5052.