CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Classrooms are full and hallways are busy at McDougle Middle School in Chapel Hill. It's the first week of school for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School System .

Enjoying every moment of the first week of school was first-year Superintendent Dr. Rodney Trice.

"What I love to see is all the smiles on our students' faces. All of our teachers are really geared up," said Trice.

He walked the halls of McDougle Middle School with School Board Chairman Dr. George Griffin before sitting down with ABC11 Eyewitness News.

Dr. Trice discussed his priorities for the new school year, which include addressing absenteeism.

"We've made some pretty good gains in terms of reducing chronic absenteeism. We want our students to be here. We have a lot of evidence that when our s

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