BUFFALO TWP — Martha Kaminski, a retired science teacher at the former Freeport Junior High School, recalls working in rooms where electrical cords lay on the floor.

Kaminski, who retired in 2003, also recalled school maintenance nailing blocks into the ceiling periodically to keep all of it intact.

She found a different story Monday night touring the Freeport Middle School.

Along with appreciating students now using a new building, Kaminski noted the facility uses updated technology.

“I am really envious of all the electrical equipment and wonderful labs for science,” she said.

Although the school opened last fall, the school district held the open house now to accommodate all the finishing touches made in the past year.

Former junior high guidance counselor Karen Derda of Harrison Township also liked what she saw.

“All I can say is wow,” Derda said. “A beautifully laid out place with all the bells and whistles. I like it.”

The school, which is behind the high school off Route 356, separates each of the three grades — sixth, seventh and eighth — into each wing.

Technology is employed throughout the building, including a computer lab, the auditorium and a room with a green screen.

Tina Ruffner of Buffalo Township was one of the parents touring the building with her child, who will attend the school later this month.

“It's beautiful,” Ruffner said.

Her daughter, Gracie, who is going into sixth grade, agreed.

“I think it's pretty nice,” Gracie said.

However, she admitted she was nervous coming into a new environment with new instructors.

But her mother said the tour was a good way for incoming students to become acclimated to the building before orientation next week.

Sarah Shepherd of Buffalo Township shared her classmate's nervousness.

Her father, John Shepherd was impressed with the building.

“It's better than the schools I went to,” he said. “I work in technology so it's nice to see computers.”

Principal Don Dell said the most important aspect about the technology is that the teachers are using it.

“The teachers bought into it,” Dell said. “They use it. I'm proud of them.”

What used to be only a wood shop in older schools now incorporates 3-D printing and robotics.

“They build robots,” said school board President Dan Lucovich.

He said the auditorium boasts a state-of-the-art sound system.

Tour guide Jack Mason, who is going into eighth grade, said there are different color lights in the auditorium that can be used as well.

Kelly Warriner of Buffalo Township toured the building just to see what it looked like.

“This is my back yard,” Warriner said. “I thought it was really nice.”

Lucovich explained the open house was held now because the district wanted all the details to be done before showing off the building.

The immediate goal of the nearly $40 million project was for the school to be open for classes last fall. Lucovich said at that time some equipment was not yet in the exercise room, which is cater-corner from the gymnasium, as well as floor and wall tiles needing replaced.

Once the fixes were made, the floors received three coats of wax.

Gym classes were initially held outside for brief time last school year.

Jack Mason said not having access to the gym in the beginning of the year made for some cold mornings during phys-ed class.

“We were outside on the blacktop,” he said. “It was not fun when it was 60 degrees.”

However, he conceded 60 was not so bad, especially in light of this summer's heat and humidity.

Lucovich stressed construction of the building took only 14 months.

“That was a major accomplishment,” he said. “Normally, it takes two years to build a school like this.”

Dell said despite the building not being completely finished last fall, the staff worked together to ensure there were no problems.

“We had a successful year,” he said.

Lucovich said the district appreciated people coming to see the finished building.

“It's a good turnout,” he said. “We're pleased.”