$17 million Lake Park-Audubon school opens its doors

Lake Park, MN (WDAY TV) -- Years of disappointment quickly faded today as students and staff in Lake Park Audubon saw a dream come true. Their new 17 million dollar school opened its doors.

They filled the halls of their brand new high school for the first day of classes today. A project decades in the making became a reality as the class bell rang through the halls of Lake Park-Audubon High School.

Emma Ulmer/Senior: "I walked in this morning and it's completely different. Everything is new. Kids are just really excited to be here."

It was the first day at a brand new school for students, teachers, and staff. And talk about a fresh start.

The school's ventilation, air conditioning, and geothermal systems make for a comfortable learning environment, something administrators say was lacking from the dank halls of the old building.

Dale Hogie/District Superintendent: "If we were in the other building right now, we'd be sitting in rooms or hallways, meeting areas that are gonna exceed 80 degrees. And that's just the way it was in that site. During the winter months, the same kind of thing."

Just about everything in the building is new, from the desks and chairs to the basketball courts.

Another feature of the new school is better access to technology. There is wireless Internet set up throughout the building, giving classrooms an opportunity to go in a more paperless direction.

Nate Renner/Senior: "The technology is just, as the world progresses, it's what you need. And we're keeping up with the times now."

Each tenth through twelfth grade student will be assigned a laptop to use during the school year. Those new features will benefit each student, but for seniors going into their final year, leaving the old school means leaving some of the memories within.

Renner: "It's bittersweet, but, I mean I am just happy for the community that this finally has happened."

Enrollment at Lake Park-Audubon has increased in the past 2-years, since the decision to build the new school.

Tags: k-12 education, becky parker, reporters, news, updates