AUSTINTOWN TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Although class has been in session for weeks now, the Austintown Local School district officially opened two new schools on Sunday.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies were held for Austintown Elementary School and Austintown Intermediate School.

The new schools both cost $50 million to build. 47 percent of that money came from the state.  The balance of the funds come from a 2.9 mill bond issue that property owners will pay over a 37 year period.  The new educational complexes are taking in students from seven old schools that have been closed. 

Kindergarten principal Sheila Palumbo tells 21 News all classrooms have technology of the 21st Century. "Our touch screen TV's; Each of our grade levels have our very own reading libraries. In addition to the main library in front of the building, we have computer labs in the building and we will have computers on carts as well for the classrooms for the teachers to be able to use; State of the art in our music rooms and our art classrooms.", said Palumbo.

Superintendent Vincent Colaluca says the district obtained a variance so the buildings have been designed to accommodate future growth when the district goes wireless.  "In the future, when every child brings a device to school or when we are able to supply that as a district, we'll have the capacity for wireless hook up.", said Colaluca. 

 The superintendent thanked the contractors, saying all projects came in under bid and on time saving taxpayers dollars. 

He also thanked lawmakers for changing the law so the Schools Facility Commission could be formed to help districts pay for needed projects.