Although the 600 students at Allison Park Elementary School in Chartiers returned to the same school for the start of classes Tuesday, the building didn't look the same.

The school, which has been under construction for more than a year, reopened with a new wing containing six classrooms. It also has a new kitchen and other renovations.

Part of the building remains off limits for classes as the renovations enter the final phase. Work will continue throughout the school year and continue through spring.

Don Bennett, business manager for the Chartiers-Houston School District, said the start of classes for the entire district was postponed until after Labor Day to make sure the Allison Park school, which houses kindergarten through sixth grade, was ready.

"We've started later the past two years and it has worked well," Mr. Bennett said. "We've had continuous construction at Allison Park since last year, but the work should be completed next year."

He said the electrical, heating and air conditioning systems have been upgraded, and the school now can accommodate more than 300 computers.

"Computers weren't even thought of when the school opened many years ago," Mr. Bennett said. "This is a wonderful improvement for our students and staff."

New administrative offices also have been added.

Students are occupying the renovated and expanded portion of the school while the older section is renovated.

"The school had gotten cramped," Mr. Bennett said. "We've had to have classes in portable classrooms for more than five years."

In addition to the new physical amenities, children are being introduced to the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, which will continue the district's proactive approach to positive behavior at school.

The district will continue to focus on instruction that is differentiated to meet students' learning needs.

At the high school, the district will continue to increase its use of the Alert Now System, a rapid notification system, and Edline, a Web-based system that allows parents to view their child's progress and grades. Hours of teen and family services have been increased, and the high school has eight new teachers.

In nearby Fort Cherry School District, classes started Aug. 25.

The district is celebrating positive student gains on state achievement tests, in large part because of a new mentoring program, a more rigorous curriculum and greater funding from the state for learning and staff development.

Four tennis courts were renovated this summer for student and community use, the high school media production center was renovated with state-of-the-art digital equipment and high school students begin the third year of the state-sponsored Classrooms For the Future grant that provides one-on-one computing.

This year, Fort Cherry is working to develop a long-range facilities master plan to help guide physical resources to the year 2020.

Prior to the Sept. 19 football game, Ranger Stadium will be dedicated as Jim Garry Stadium, honoring the life and legacy of Mr. Garry, the first, and for more than 40 years the only, varsity head football coach at Fort Cherry.