APOPKA, Fla. — Students throughout Central Florida returned to class Wednesday, and safety is the lesson.

A shortage of teachers and bus drivers also is a key concern.

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), Central Florida's largest school district, is home to more than 206,000 students this school year, according to early estimates from district officials. OCPS is the ninth-largest school district in the nation and the fourth-largest in Florida.

Five new elementary and middle schools will make room for more students in three growing areas in the county: Horizon West, Apopka and Meadow Woods to try to help make room for all the students.

However, Orange County, as well as most Central Florida school districts still seek additional teachers to fill those classrooms and more bus drivers to help get students to school. For now, the districts are using some additional staff resources to fill the gap in teachers and adjusting bus schedules.

When it comes to safety, OCPS and Lake County both rolled out new alert systems.

Orange County's lockdown alert system, called SaferWatch, is being fully implemented this school year. Per Alyssa’s Alert, all Florida public schools must implement a mobile panic alert system to connect with first responders. 

SaferWatch has a lockdown alert button that simultaneously sends an alert message to 911 dispatchers and designated school administrators, explained OCPS District Police Chief Bryan Holmes at a news conference Monday. The lockdown is then to be announced over the school intercom. SaferWatch also has the option to send pictures and live video updates to dispatchers. The app is available on all employees’ district-issued digital devices, said Holmes, and they can also install it on their personal devices if they choose.

In Lake, all faculty members receive badges called Centegix with state of the art panic buttons. For incidents that call for administrative staff help, teachers can press the button three times, and school administrators, resource officers, and nurses will be sent to that specific location within the school. Pressing the button at least eight times will contact law enforcement and campus security to come to the location for violent incidents such as active shooter situation.

In Brevard County, officials are using a new system that will help district and school leaders better keep track of the more than 23,000 students who take buses to schools.

Wednesday is also the first day of school for Dr. Maria Vazquez, Orange County's superintendent designate. She was formerly the deputy superintendent.

Vazquez will be replacing Dr. Barbara Jenkins. Jenkins will be helping with the transition before she officially retires in December.

Volusia is the only Central Florida school district that does not return to the classroom Wednesday. Its school year begins Monday.