Yorktown Schools Ready for Opening Day [Photos]

 administrators and staff are ready for the start of the 2012-13 school year. Several improvements improvements took place over the summer just in time for the first day of school on Wednesday, Sept. 5.

students will notice a few changes inside and outside the school thanks to extensive renovations that cost about $6 million. (Click through the photo gallery above for a snapshot of the work.)

The projects were completed as part of a $37 million capital bond project approved in 2006. The bulk of the work that occurred at , included:

• A reconfigured front lobby, where visitors will be welcomed into the attendance office of the high school, improving security and comfort
• Replacement of ceilings and lights in all corridors
• Replacement of 1,250 lockers original to the building
• Upgrades to the athletic corridor
• Complete rehabilitation of the nurse’s suite
• New perimeter building lights
• Replacement of the track and turf, including new drainage and sub-grade.

Other improvements include the installation of an intruder system, which goes on at the end of the day and gets activated if it senses movement. There is also a surveillance system installed in every high school hallway.

"I think the students are going to love it," Assistant Superintendent of Business Tom Cole said of the renovations done throughout the high school.

The cost of the work done inside the high school was $2.5 million, plus an additional $2 million for the track and turf field replacement. The total cost for the projects at the high school is $6 million, which also includes the other costs associated with the work, Cole said. 

"I think they're beautiful," high school band director Emily Kluga said of the renovation. "It's a classy face-lift for the school. It will be shocking to the students when they come back – shocking in a good way."

To make the idle French Hill Elementary School more attractive and functional to its new tenants and their customers who will be moving into beginning in September, there have been courtyard renovation, including demolition and remediation.

Cole said over the last years, the district has been experiences lower maintenance, water and heating costs. In addition, the district has been able to complete more renovations projects by spreading them out over a few years and take advantage of the low interest rates for borrowing money.

The next part of the bond project renovations, which are scheduled for next year, will be at the .

There are 3,700 students district-wide, of which 1,200 are students at Yorktown High School. 

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our newsletter