Getting his school in top shape, Northwestern Middle School Principal Arvin Johnson is almost ready for students to walk the halls.

"I'm extremely excited," Johnson said of the new school year, which starts Monday in Duval County. "We've been working really hard, and I'm pretty sure on Sunday when we do that final walk-through we'll feel great. And we're just ready for the kids at this point."

As summer vacation ends, Johnson wants to make sure students have something to look forward to. His school has been preparing for weeks.

"Making sure all students have a schedule, making sure all the students know the registration process so that students don't get here on the first day and not know where to go," Johnson said. "Second thing would be building-readiness, making sure that the buildings are clean and all of the restrooms are stocked, and all those sorts of things."

Parents may have some homework, too. Mayor Alvin Brown is encouraging their involvement in the lives in Jacksonville's students.

"For parents, guardians, single mothers out there, I was raised by my mother and grandmother. I want you to be engaged in your child's education," Brown said Friday on The Morning Show. "I want you to really encourage them, show up for (parent-teacher association) meetings, go to the school, engage in your kid's life."

As families catch up with the school routine, the district is reminding everyone not to get caught up in traffic next week.

"The buses are ready to go. They've been working on their routes this week," Duval County Public Schools spokeswoman Jill Johnson said. "And what happens next week is, obviously, you know, we urge people to have caution. There's going to be 733 additional vehicles on the road on Monday."