GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Thousands of students in Grand Rapids went back to class early Monday morning.
Grand Rapids Public Schools is capping off a three-year renovation project at Innovation Central High School.
The new building features include a new HVAC system, renovations to the Betty Ford Auditorium, better technology in classrooms, hundreds of new, larger windows and a new security entrance.
More renovations are scheduled for the auditorium very soon, leaders say.
The renovated school also has a new camera system in place as part of the renovations.
"Those camera systems will allow us to monitor and ensure scholars and staff are safe throughout the school day," said Derrick Martin, the school's principal. Martin is also a 2000 graduate of the school.
Over at Coit Creative Arts Academy, the school has a new accessible playground, which features turf.
This year, the district is also unveiling new updated safety features.
At Alger Middle School, GRPS leaders say students will see more security officers at the start of the new year.
Alarms have also been added to outside doors at the school, which will alert staff when they're opened, district leaders say.
The district says they've more than doubled the number of metal detectors available to use in the district this year, and they plan to regularly use detectors at Alger, just as they did at the end of the last school year.
Click here for the district's calendar.