After more than a year of bond construction, students across the Niles district were able to see some of the work in progress Tuesday as they headed back to class after summer break.

At Howard Elementary School, 2788 Mannix St., an entire new corridor, complete with nine new classrooms and a new gymnasium, awaited returning students. Schools were also equipped with new, ventilation, air conditioning and security features.

Additionally, students from Howard and Ellis schools became one. Starting this year, kindergarten and first grade students who had formerly been located at James Ellis Elementary School, 27450 Mannix St., were relocated to Howard, after Ellis closed in June.

Dan Applegate, the Niles Community Schools superintendent, thanked custodial staff for spending their holiday weekend wrapping up last-minute items, such as finishing flooring, the ceiling repairs and light fixtures.

“Hats off to them because they made it happen,” Applegate said. “Everyone really pitched in to get things moved. It is exciting.”

While moving is always a transition, Applegate said teachers, faculty and custodians worked as a team.

During the construction, music teacher Steve Bizoe temporarily had no classroom to call his own. For the past year, Bizoe has pushed a 300-pound cart loaded down with all his teaching materials from class to class.

On Tuesday, he stood inside his new classroom, where the hefty music cart was stored in the corner near a full-sized electronic keyboard.

“It’s great,” Bizoe said. “Everything is new and fresh. It has a much more contemporary feel.”

Bizoe was also appreciative of the newly installed climate control, including air conditioning. According to an earlier interview with school personnel, much of the internal and mechanical components of the district’s schools had last been updated between the 1930s and 1960s.

Before the units were installed, Bizoe said classroom temperatures could reach into the 80s.

In addition to climate control, the classrooms feature new case work for storage, new windows and new furniture.

In the new gymnasium, freshly polished wooden floors, a full basketball court and brand new electronic equipment, including a white board, document camera and projector were available to physical education teacher Elizabeth Green.

“It’s spectacular,” Green said. “With the size, it is going to allow me a lot of opportunity for different types of lessons.”

Green said students who had so far utilized the newest of the school’s features had been overwhelmed with excitement.

Richelle Bower, an art teacher, had one word for the new classrooms.

“Beautiful,” Bower said. “[The new classroom] helps with organization completely. There is more space. It is wonderful.”

Principal Michelle Asmus said students were happy to try out the features Tuesday.

“They are so grateful to the community for this,” Asmus said.

Additional features included new offices for faculty. Through an anonymous donor, Howard was also able to add a playground for kindergarteners, which includes a swing set and various playground features that are targeted to help coordination and motor skill development.

Next on the construction agenda will be putting Eastside Connections up for a construction bid. Applegate said they hope to transition students temporarily to Oak Manor in January, when construction is expected to begin.

Ring Lardner Middle School students also got to check out their new classrooms on Tuesday.

At Niles High School the culinary kitchen still needs new flooring. The high school’s band room is also still under construction and expected to be finished next summer.

James-Ellis sold for $115,000 through DMottL Realty in Buchanan. Applegate did not know who the buyer was and the realty company could not be reached for comment before deadline.

Next week, the school district will host two dedication ceremonies for the updated schools. There will be a ceremony at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 at Ring Lardner, 801 N. 17th St. and at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 at Howard Ellis. The public is welcome to attend.