CHARLOTTE, N.C. — About 25,000 elementary school students returned to campuses across Mecklenburg County on Monday.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are returning to in-person instruction over the next few weeks.

The first group of K-8 students, who returned to campus Monday, will be back Tuesday and then finish the week virtually.

Then, a second group of another 25,000 to 26,000 will go to school campuses on Thursday and Friday.

District parents like Erin McClain say explaining the process to a seven-year-old has been difficult.

"I mean he internalizes a lot, even at age 7. A lot of conversations we have with him, he shuts down. But I think the biggest thing that I could sense as his mom was the inconsistency of it. And, relearning what it means to wake up in the morning and go to school. And that’s a lot of weight for a little person,” McClain says while waiting for her son’s bus at the end of the day.

Her second grader, Gray McClain, did have a good first day back at school.

As his mom picked him up at the bus stop, it almost felt normal, even if nothing else this school year has been usual.

"It has been the most exhausting thing about 2020-21, especially the sense of feeling helpless. Like, for the first time, I think I realized there are so many decisions that are out of my control. I feel OK when that’s impacting me, but not so much when it’s impacting my son. So, it has been, I use [the] term "decision fatigue". Should we keep him in, do we home-school him? Do we look elsewhere for schools? It’s just been exhausting,” McClain adds.

She says the changes from virtual, to in-person, to choose an option, to not being able to choose has been frustrating for parents and students alike.

Originally, students were set to return to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in mid-to-late January, which was delayed due to a spike in the COVID-19 pandemic.

When interviewed early Monday afternoon, Superintendent Earnest Wilson called Monday a success and says they’re preparing for middle and high schoolers to return next week.

Three groups of middle and high schoolers will alternate in-person instruction every third week, starting next Monday.

When asked if the schedules could change again, the Superintendent says it just depends.

"What we will do is evaluate our progress based upon our processes and procedures, how those have played out and we’ll look at the data and we’ll make a decision at some point. But, that’s probably weeks down the road,” Winston adds.

The superintendent says they want to see how the return to school goes for all grade levels before making any further decisions.

CMS is also continuing to offer its fully virtual academy, however, parents need to reach out to individual schools to see if their children are eligible to enroll.

Teachers and staff are also waiting for vaccinations. So far, CMS staff say they believe any teacher or staff over the age of 65 and dealing with students daily has, at least, been offered a vaccine appointment.

Gov. Roy Cooper said earlier this month the state plans on offering vaccinations to all front-line school staff starting February 24.