Summer vacation comes to an end today for the more than 27,000 Hall County Schools students returning to the classroom for the first day of the 2017-18 school year. While construction workers, teachers and other school employees were busy last week getting final work completed and plans in place to deal with any potential issues, Kevin Bales, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, said there is excitement about the new school year. “If it goes according to plan, the excitement and the positive experiences will far outweigh any small, minor issues that will pop up,” Bales said Friday. “Personally, I like getting into the elementary schools to see those kindergartners arriving for day one of their educational experience; it’s really powerful. They bring an energy unlike what most people will be able to experience.” Bales said preparations were taking place last week on school construction sites, in classrooms and on bus routes where employees were “making sure we’re ready to go for the first trips” to begin Monday morning. Some construction projects were completed just in time for open house events last week.