By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – It is the first day of school for Buffalo school students. Some students will be returning to newly remolded school buildings. Superintendent James Williams says five buildings are ready to reopen for start of the new school year.
Click the audio player above to hear Eileen Buckley's story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.
Two high schools and three elementary schools have been refurbished as part of phase three of the Joint Schools Reconstruction Project. A $39 million renovation is complete at South Park High School and a $38 million project was conducted at Burgard High School. Williams is thrilled to see students return to a new environment for learning.
Herman Badillo School on South Elmwood Avenue, International School 45 and Lovejoy Discovery School have also been transformed. Williams says $70 million in technology has been added as part of the project.
As for the Joint Schools project, phase four begins in November at nine more schools. City Honors is slated to reopen in 2010.