Watervliet High School is in the midst of a $14 million facelift - and taxpayers aren't paying a dime. Our Sabina Kuriakose reports on the school's race to be ready for the first day of class.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

WATERVLIET, N.Y. -- "This is a 1938 building, and it's perfect for students in 1938, but not for students in 2010," said Watervliet City School District Superintendent Paul Padalino.

With less than a month to go before it's back to school, construction crews are digging, wiring, and working away at Watervliet Junior/Senior High School.

"Twelve new classrooms, state of the art, new technology in the classrooms, SMART boards on the wall, LCD projectors in the ceiling," he described.

That's along with a brand new gym with a fitness center, basketball and volleyball courts, and an indoor track.

"We're going to put a committee together to figure out hours and operations for the public to come in and use these facilities," said Padalino.

It's a $14 million project that he said isn't costing city taxpayers a dime.

"As a high needs school district, we get about 95 percent of our state aid for our buildings," explained Padalino.

But back to the big question - will the renovations will make it for the first day of class? Padalino said it'll happen, but they'll have to book it.

"We'll be open by September," he assured.

The new gym will take a few extra months to make the grade. It'll be done by December.

This project is part of a $23 million renovation plan. The elementary school was completed last year.