New middle school opens as academic year begins for year-round students in Wake County

Year-round students in Wake County Public Schools return to classrooms Thursday.

Track 1, Track 2 and Track 3 students all start school on July 7.

Thursday, July 28, is an early release day. Track 4 students will go back to school on July 29, when Track 3 tracks out.

Some students will walk through the doors of a brand new school Thursday as Herbert Akins Road Middle School opens in Fuquay-Varina.

Principal Anne Marie Adkins said the brand-new building features top-of-the-line equipment, three stories of classrooms, labs and workspace, interactive touch screen boards and open collaboration spaces throughout the hallways.

According to Adkins, Herbert Atkins has around 85 staff members coming from different schools in Wake County, and visiting faculty from two other counties. Some staff moved from out of state to work at the school.

Adkins said her team is ready to build a new community here with students.

"When you have a strong team, and you find those commonalities and how to support one another, you really can kind of face anything that may come our way," Adkins said.

All drivers should be ready for more traffic on the roads and drive slowly in school zones. Here are some helpful tips and reminders.

Schools in Wake County and across the state are dealing with a shortage of school bus drivers, which may cause some delays.

Each year, children are injured or killed when drivers don't stop or slow down for buses.

Most of us know all vehicles must stop for school buses on two lane roads, even if there is a turn lane.

A back-to-school lesson for drivers: Don't try and beat the bus

The confusion often comes when there are four lanes. If a four-lane road does not have any kind of median, everyone in both directions must stop. If that four-lane road has something in the middle, whether it’s a center turn lane or any kind of a median, only drivers behind and beside the bus must stop.

Drivers headed in the opposite direction can keep traveling.

Those caught violating the law can get a $500 fine and points on their license.

The Wake County Public School System is raising prices of all meals by $0.25, to $3 or $3.25 for lunch and $1.50 or $1.75 for breakfast, depending on the school level.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, meals were free for all students. Students can still apply for free or reduced lunch.

Free lunch in NC, Wake County: Find a summer meal site near you