First day of school underway for thousands of NC students

During the school day, students will have access to YMCA facilities, including the gym. In the afternoon, the space will be used for afterschool programs.

Live, play, learn: New YMCA campus to serve southeast Raleigh families

Amy Gotshalk, a first grade teacher at North Ridge, was busy setting up her new classroom layout, which includes new dry erase board tables.

"I hung up a poster right there," said Gorshalk. "And I'm hoping to display my students' work over there on that window."

Wake County Public Schools announced they have 99-percent of the teachers they needed for this school year. And, for the first time in years, each bus route is covered by a driver, helping to get 160,000 students back to class.

In Durham County, approximately 28,000 students returned to school on Monday morning. At Brodgen Middle School, principal Sheldon Lanier wanted parents to know that their kids are in good hands.

"We got this," he told WRAL News in a live interview. "Drop them off, and let us take care of them and keep them safe."

Lanier also added that the school saw exceptional academic performance last year, and he wants to keep it going this year.

"Study hard," he said. "Because we're going to work you."

Cool fall weather starts the week, but summer temps return Wednesday