Berta Weasthersbee Elementary School held a tearing of the tape ceremony Thursday night, signifying the end of a recent renovation project that covered just about every part of the school.

The school has new classroom furniture, security systems, security doors, a remodeled entrance, a new gym floor, fresh paint and carpet throughout, remodeled media center for more space and redone staircases.

The hope is that the new renovations will not only give the school a new look, but it’ll also give the students another reason to be excited about school.

“You never know what life you are going to touch or the future of our world,” said Berta principal Willie Cooks said. “That’s why we must give 100 percent every day. Teachers cannot have bad days. I cannot have a bad day. If I have a bad day, it seems to resonate to others, and that’s not fair to them. Our kids are greeted every day with love and consideration. They are told what they can do and what they can be, and we are going to support them 100 percent.”

Cooks, a first-year principal at Berta, went on to read some impressive statistics regarding changes at the school.

Cooks said suspensions have decreased by 99.4 percent compared to last year at this time.

“We rarely have kids in [in-school suspension]. Our kids are in the classroom,” Cooks said. “And when we can get them in the classroom, we are going to have great results at the end of the school year.”

He said referrals, where students were written up, decreased by 50 percent in August.Ted Alford, chairman of the Troup County Board of Education, said the current Berta building was constructed in 1953.