While many shoppers completed their back to school preparations during the "tax free holiday" over the weekend, teachers and school administrators are hard at work gearing up for the new school year.

The desks are empty now, but come Wednesday, students will be coming in, in larger numbers than teachers have seen in recent years.

At Landmark Elementary, teachers expect to see on average, four more students per classroom, and they hope new technology can help

Tara Griffith, with Landmark Elementary said, "Kindergarten is getting interactive boards where the students can actually go up and interact with the board and type in their answers."

A total of 425 incoming freshman will make their way into Dothan High School this year and fellow students are preparing to greet them with arms wide open.

Hayden Creel, a Dothan High School senior said, "The important part is to let the freshman know that this is their home and they don't have to be afraid to come to school every day. We love our freshman; we're not going to eat them. "

Dothan High Principal Andrew Sewell said they are "Trying to get ready for our freshman center that is getting renovated. So, we made plans to take a step in the direction to get our freshman isolated on one wing."

County administration has had to deny hundreds of transfer requests this summer as numbers have started to climb, so they're looking into construction projects to improve capacity.

Houston Co. Superintendent Tim Pitchford said, “We have had a long range and short range planning committee that have been working for well over a year, and we're starting to look very seriously at our building program."