TIVERTON — School begins today for about 2,000 children in the shadow of a year-old stalemate over negotiation of a new teachers’ contract, with teachers reporting to work under the terms of a Superior Court order.

Schools Supt. William J. Rearick last week said that his administration is putting its “time and energy into planning for the new elementary schools.”

He referred to the remodeling and expansion of the Fort Barton and Pocasset elementary schools, which are scheduled to re-open Jan. 5.

For the last year, Fort Barton has temporarily relocated to the former Nonquit School on Neck Road, while the operations of the Pocasset Elementary School have shifted to the old Ranger School on Stafford Road.

The new Walter E. Ranger Elementary School on North Brayton Road opened a year ago. It was the first construction project to be completed with an overall $30-million bond intended to modernize all three elementary schools in town.

Rearick said the district does not plan any new academic programs for the current year.

In the face of budgetary pressures, including an attempt to make substantial cuts at the Financial Town Meeting, school officials have said they did well to maintain the existing array of programs.

gmacris@projo.com