New facilities greet students at Libertyville school

The first day of classes at Copeland Manor Elementary School in Libertyville provided a bonus for students in the form of some new facilities.

Students found four new classrooms in a fifth-grade wing and a renovated kindergarten wing with new bathrooms. Crews also moved the Learning Center back to a remodeled space in the building and removed mobile classrooms. It's all part of a $5.7 million renovation project at the 58-year-old school at 801 Seventh St.

Still under construction is a new full-size gymnasium that will include a stage. The new gym is triple the size of the original gym that will be used as a multipurpose room. Construction on the new gym is expected to be completed by late December.

Tuesday marked the first day of the new school year at all five schools in Libertyville Elementary District 70, while kindergarten students are set to begin classes Wednesday.