The new East Brainerd Elementary School opens

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – More than 900 students got to start the school year in a brand new building Thursday.

The new East Brainered Elementary School opened at the former David Brainerd School site.

The new school features enhanced safety measures, like a new system to buzz in guests to the school, separate parent and school bus drop off and pickup sites, and a geothermal system to cool the 154,000 square foot building.

But the building isn’t completely finished yet.

Principal Dr. Bryan Stewart says, "We’re about 98% inside the building, and they have landscaping to do outside, and our playgrounds to do outside.  Playgrounds will be at the end of August and landscaping should be complete by the middle of September."

Dr. Stewart tells us the construction workers come after the school kids go home for the day.

The school project cost came in almost two million dollars under budget.