FOLEY, Ala. - Baldwin County public schools opened the doors and students piled into classrooms for the first time Monday to begin the 2011-2012 school year. But as teachers put to test weeks of preparation and students shifted gears from summer vacation to the learning mindset, the high temperatures and potentially dangerous heat did not leave the area.

Terry Wilhite, Baldwin County Public Schools communications director, said teachers and school officials are taking the "necessary precautions" to make sure students are kept safe.

"We follow precautions for not taking students out at the hottest time of the day," Wilhite said. "We're making sure water is provided. We're making sure they have ready access to water."

According to accuweather.com, the temperatures for this week in Robertsdale are as follows: Monday was a high of 93 degrees; Tuesday was a high of 91 degrees; Wednesday will have a high of 95 degrees; Thursday will have a high of 94 degrees; and Friday will have a high of 92 degrees. According to the Website, the highs for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are predicted to be above the exact date last year and above the normal for the date.

The Website also stated the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for all Baldwin County cities except for Bay Minette.

While there is not a daily recess for kids, there are physical education classes kids take, which usually allow for the release of energy outside.

"The teachers are aware of the stress that heat can have on students, and they take the necessary precautions," Wilhite said. "Typically, they are not out for very long."

Foley Elementary School Principal Bill Lawrence said these classes would be held inside an air-conditioned gymnasium at FES until the temperatures "become safe.

"That's traditional. We live in the South and it's August," he said. "We don't go out; just like if it's cold."

Wilhite said the decision to hold P.E. classes inside or outside is up to each school's athletic director.

More students and no new buildings

More than 28,000 students were expected to enter the halls of public schools across the county, Wilhite said.

"We will gain 500-800 new students on day one," he said.

"It actually takes about a month for enrollment to settle down and for everyone who is moving from across the country to settle down."

Enrollment count will increase throughout the first month, Wilhite said, with families still moving into the area.

"We do a day one count and day 10 count," he said. "You'll see those numbers increase over the first month."

This is the first year in a while the county will not introduce a new school building at the start of the year, Wilhite said, as the capital construction campaign ended last year.

"The campaign was a $150,000,000 construction effort that has spanned the course of five years," he said.