HOUSTON -- Students and teachers across the Houston area were back in the classroom on Monday, KPRC Local 2 reported.

This will be the last first day of school for Houston Independent School District Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra. He will only be with the school district for one week this year as he prepares to retire on Aug. 31.

About 400 pre-Kindergarten students at Mistral Early Childhood Center in southwest Houston were in a classroom for the first time.

New student Carlos Becerril was greeted by his teachers and Saavedra.

Carlos's mother said she is looking forward to seeing what the new superintendent will bring to the schools.

"I hope he does as well as a job as Mr. Saavedra has done in the past years," said Elizabeth Becerril, Carlos' mother. "He's been really dedicated to education, so we hope we get the same results or better."

HISD has named Dr. Terry Grier as the finalist to replace Saavedra. Grier is currently the superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. The school district must wait 21 days from the day he was named a finalist before they may offer him a contract.

"I think this is a really good school district that I think is ready to move on to the next level," Saavedra said. "I think Dr. Grier is the person to do that."

Students at Travis Elementary got an extended summer break. The school was closed early because of a swine flu outbreak.

"They cleaned the whole school," Principal Suzy Walker said. "They put up hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere."

HISD has a hot line parents can call if they have any questions about school. Calls to 713-556-8900 will be answered Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Some Fort Bend County Independent School District elementary students got a special treat on their first day back.

Fluor Corporation employees were at E.A. Jones and Ridgemont elementary schools. Each student got a backpack filled with school supplies.

Some Pearland high school students are going to a brand new school this year.

Parents and faculty members said some students may get lost at Glenda Dawson High School. The school is three stories tall, has 65 classrooms and is 360,000-square-feet.

The school is named after Glenda Dawson, a former Pearland High School Teacher and state representative.

Many students in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District had to find a new way to get to school. The district has eliminated bus service for students who live two miles or less away from their school.

Cell Phones Illegal In School Zones

Drivers were reminded to slow down in school zones and stay off their cellular phones.

New road signs have been posted in many cities. The signs warn that a new state law prohibits the use of cellular phones in school zones.

The law bans talking, texting or surfing the Internet while a vehicle is in motion. Drivers may use a hands-free device to talk while in a school zone.

"I've actually had a few incidents where I was in danger, and so was my daughter, from texting and talking from another driver," Lakesha Thompson said.

Drivers may use their cellular phones to make an emergency call or while the vehicle is stopped.

The law also applies to bus drivers.

Cities wishing to enforce the law are required to have signs posted at the beginning of each school zone.

The law takes effect Sept. 1.

Violators may be fined up to $200.

"I think it would make people more aware since there is a recession," student Dominique Gibson said. "Nobody wants to lose $200."

Some students said they thought the law was a good idea.

"Many of us walk across the street and we don't want to get hit," student Elizabeth Emmanuel said.